And how old does a sweetheart have to be?demanded Lahoma with some displeasure.I feel old enough for anything,and Wilfred doesn't look any older than the knight standing guard in THE TALISMAN.Besides,look at David Copperfield and Little Em'ly.
That was child's work,retorted Brick.
I was afraid of this,growled Bill Atkins restlessly.
Wilfred laughed out.Don't worry.My eastern girl is at least nineteen years old,and so thoroughly civilized that she thinks this part of the world is still overrun with Indians and buffaloes.She wouldn't live out here for a
fortune,and she wouldn't marry a man back East without one--that's why I'm here.I didn't have the fortune.
Does she LOVE you,Wilfred?Her voice was so soft,her eyes were so big,that Bill uttered a smothered groan,and even Brick sat up.
She did the last time I saw her--can't say how she feels now;that's been about two years ago.He spoke lightly;but gazing into the wonderful depths of Lahoma's eyes,he felt a queer sensation like a lost heart-beat.
Did she send you here as a kind of test?
Oh,no,she told me good-by and we parted forever.Both of us were poor,--you can't live in the city if you're poor;you can BE poor there,but not LIVE.By this time she's found some one with property,I dare say--she's tremendously handsome and accomplished,and has a very distinguished-looking mother and they have friends in society--she'll make it all right,no doubt.His voice was matter-of-fact even to indifference;but for all that,he seemed to be deeply inhaling Lahoma's freshness of morning-rose sparkling with dew.
Does it pierce your heart to think of her marrying somebody else?Her voice was sweet with the dream-passion of a young girl.