The Girl from Montana

"We can't make coffee without water," she said as he came back with a

bundle of sticks.

He whistled.

"Could you inform me where to look for water?" he asked.

She looked into his face, and saw how worn and gray he was about his eyes;

and a sudden compassion came upon her.

"You'd better eat something first," she said, "and then we'll go and hunt

for water. There's sure to be some in the valley. We'll cook some meat."

She took the sticks from him, and made the fire in a businesslike way. He

watched her, and wondered at her grace. Who was she, and how had she

wandered out into this waste place? Her face was both beautiful and

interesting. She would make a fine study if he were not so weary of all

human nature, and especially woman. He sighed as he thought again of

himself.

The girl caught the sound, and, turning with the quickness of a wild

creature, caught the sadness in his face. It seemed to drive away much of

her fear and resentment. A half-flicker of a smile came to her lips as

their eyes met. It seemed to recognize a comradeship in sorrow. But her

face hardened again almost at once into disapproval as he answered her

look.

The man felt a passing disappointment. After a minute, during which the

girl had dropped her eyes to her work again, he said: "Now, why did you

look at me in that way? Ought I to be helping you in some way? I'm

awkward, I know, but I can obey if you'll just tell me how."

The girl seemed puzzled; then she replied almost sullenly: "There's nothing more to do. It's ready to eat."

She gave him a piece of the meat and the last of the corn bread in the tin

cup, and placed the pan of beans beside him; but she did not attempt to

eat anything herself.

He took a hungry bite or two, and looked furtively at her.

"I insist upon knowing why you looked--" he paused and eyed her--"why you

look at me in that way. I'm not a wolf if I am hungry, and I'm not going

to eat you up."

The look of displeasure deepened on the girl's brow. In spite of his

hunger the man was compelled to watch her. She seemed to be looking at a

flock of birds in the sky. Her hand rested lightly at her belt. The birds

were coming towards them, flying almost over their heads.