The Golden Woman

The Padre's eyes were smiling. He glanced round the tumbled-down old barn. They had contrived to house their horses very comfortably, and Buck kept them wonderfully cared for. These things appealed to him in a way that made him regret many things.

"Who's riding--my plug?" the Padre asked deliberately.

Buck shrugged.

"Why ask?" he said doggedly. "Who generally does? I don't seem to guess we need beat around," he went on impatiently. "That ain't bin our way, Padre. Guess those hosses are ready for us. They'll be ready night an' day--till the time comes. Then--wal, we're both goin' to use 'em."

The younger man's impatience had no disturbing effect upon the other. But his smile deepened to a great look of affection.

"Still chewin' that bone?" he said. Then he shook his head. "What's the use? We're just men, you and I; we got our own way of seeing things. Twenty years ago maybe I'd have seen things your way. Twenty years hence no doubt you'll see things mine----"

"Jest so," Buck broke in, his eyes lighting, and a strong note suddenly adding force to his interruption. "But I'm not waitin' twenty years so's to see things diff'rent."

"That's what I should have said--twenty years ago."

Buck's face suddenly flushed, and his dark brows drew together as he listened to the calm words of his friend. In a moment his answer was pouring from his lips in a hot tide which swept his hearer along and made him rejoice at the bond which existed between them. Nor, in those moments, could he help feeling glad for that day when he had found the hungry wayfarer at the trail-side.

"Ther's more than twenty years between us, sure," Buck cried with intense feeling. "Nuthin' can alter that, an' ther's sure nuthin' can make us see out o' the same eyes, nor feel with the same feelin's. Ther's nuthin' can make things seem the same to us. I know that, an' it ain't no use you tellin' me. Guess we're made diff'rent that way--an' I allow it's as well. If we weren't, wal, I guess neither of us would have things right. See here, Padre, you give most everything to me you could, ever since you brought me along to the farm. That's because it's your way to give. I hadn't nuthin' to give. I haven't nuthin' to give now. I can't even give way. Guess you can, though, because it's your nature, and because I'm askin' it. Padre, I'm goin' to act mean. I'm goin' to act so mean it'll hurt you. But it won't hurt you more than it'll hurt me. Mebbe it won't jest hurt you so much. But I'm goin' to act that way--because it's my way--when I'm set up agin it. You're settin' me up agin it now."