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almost magical change came over her features； her eyes grew larger and
more and more yearning； until they seemed to draw and absorb in their
liquid depths the figure of the young man before her； her cold face broke
into an ecstasy of light and color； her humid lips parted in a bright；
welcoming smile； until； with an irresistible impulse； she arose； and
throwing back her head stretched towards him two hands full of vague and
trembling passion。
In another moment he had seized them； kissed them； and； as he drew
her closer to his embrace； felt them tighten around his neck。 〃But what
name do you wish to call me？〃 he asked； looking down into her eyes。
Miss Nellie murmured something confidentially to the third button of
his hunting shirt。 〃But that；〃 he replied； with a smile； 〃THAT wouldn't be
any more practical； and you wouldn't want others to call me dar〃 Her
fingers loosened around his neck； she drew her head back； and a singular
expression passed over her face； which to any calmer observer than a lover
would have seemed； however； to indicate more curiosity than jealousy。
〃Who else DOES call you so？〃 she added earnestly。 〃How many； for
instance？〃
Low's reply was addressed not to her ear； but her lips。 She did not
avoid it； but added； 〃And do you kiss them all like that？〃 Taking him by
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the shoulders； she held him a little way from her； and gazed at him from
head to foot。 Then drawing him again to her embrace； she said； 〃I don't
care； at least no woman has kissed you like that。〃 Happy； dazzled； and
embarrassed； he was beginning to stammer the truthful protestation that
rose to his lips； but she stopped him： 〃No； don't protest！ say nothing！ Let
ME love YOUthat is all。 It is enough。〃 He would have caught her in
his arms again； but she drew back。 〃We are near the road；〃 she said
quietly。 〃Come！ You promised to show me where you camped。 Let
US make the most of our holiday。 In an hour I must leave the woods。〃
〃But I shall accompany you； dearest。〃
〃No； I must go as I camealone。〃
〃But Nellie〃
〃I tell you no；〃 she said； with an almost harsh practical decision；
incompatible with her previous abandonment。 〃We might be seen
together。〃
〃Well； suppose we are； we must be seen together eventually；〃 he
remonstrated。
The young girl made an involuntary gesture of impatient negation； but
checked herself。 〃Don't let us talk of that now。 Come； while I am here
under your own roof〃 she pointed to the high interlaced boughs above
them〃you must be hospitable。 Show me your home； tell me； isn't it a
little gloomy sometimes？〃
〃It never has been； I never thought it WOULD be until the moment
you leave it to…day。〃
She pressed his hand briefly and in a half…perfunctory way； as if her
vanity had accepted and dismissed the compliment。 〃Take me
somewhere；〃 she said inquisitively； 〃where you stay most； I do not seem to
see you HERE；〃 she added； looking around her with a slight shiver。 〃It is
so big and so high。 Have you no place where you eat and rest and
sleep？〃
〃Except in the rainy season； I camp all over the placeat any spot
where I may have been shooting or collecting。〃
〃Collecting？〃 queried Nellie。
〃Yes； with the herbarium； you know。〃
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〃Yes；〃 said Nellie dubiously。 〃But you told me oncethe first time
we ever talked together；〃 she added； looking in his eyes 〃something
about your keeping your things like a squirrel in a tree。 Could we not go
there？ Is there not room for us to sit and talk without being brow…beaten
and looked down upon by these supercilious trees？〃
〃It's too far away；〃 said Low truthfully； but with a somewhat
pronounced emphasis； 〃much too far for you just now； and it lies on
another trail that enters the wood beyond。 But come； I will show you a
spring known only to myself； the wood ducks； and the squirrels。 I
discovered it the first day I saw you； and gave it your name。 But you
shall christen it yourself。 It will be all yours； and yours alone； for it is so
hidden and secluded that I defy any feet but my own or whoso shall keep
step with mine to find it。 Shall that foot be yours； Nellie？〃
Her face beamed with a bright assent。 〃It may be difficult to track it
from here；〃 he said； 〃but stand where you are a moment； and don't move；
rustle； nor agitate the air in any way。 The woods are still now。〃 He
turned at right angles with the trail； moved a few paces into the ferns and
underbrush； and then stopped with his finger on his lips。 For an instant
both remained motionless； then with his intent face bent forward and both
arms extended； he began to sink slowly upon one knee and one side；
inclining his body with a gentle； perfectly…graduated movement until his
ear almost touched the ground。 Nellie watched his graceful figure
breathlessly； until； like a bow unbent； he stood suddenly erect again； and
beckoned to her without changing the direction of his face。
〃What is it？〃 she asked eagerly。
〃All right； I have found it；〃 he continued； moving forward without
turning his head。
〃But how？ What did you kneel for？〃 He did not reply； but taking
her hand in his continued to move slowly on through the underbrush； as if
obeying some magnetic attraction。 〃How did you find it？〃 again asked
the half…awed girl； her voice unconsciously falling to a whisper。 Still
silent； Low kept his rigid face and forward tread for twenty yards further；
then he stopped and released the girl's half…impatient hand。 〃How did
you find it？〃 she repeated sharply。
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〃With my ears and nose；〃 replied Low gravely。
〃With your nose？〃
〃Yes； I smelt it。〃
Still fresh with the memory of his picturesque attitude； the young
man's reply seemed to involve something more irritating to her feelings
than even that absurd anticlimax。 She looked at him coldly and critically；
and appeared to hesitate whether to proceed。 〃Is it far？〃 she asked。
〃Not more than ten minutes now； as I shall go。〃
〃And you won't have to smell your way again？〃
〃No； it is quite plain now；〃 he answered seriously； the young girl's
sarcasm slipping harmlessly from his Indian stolidity。 〃Don't you smell it
yourself？〃
But Miss Nellie's thin； cold nostrils refused to take that vulgar interest。
〃Nor hear it？ Listen！〃
〃You forget I suffer the misfortune of having been brought up under a
roof；〃 she replied coldly。
〃That's true；〃 repeated Low； in all seriousness； 〃it's not your fault。
But do you know； I sometimes think I am peculiarly sensitive to water； I
feel it miles away。 At night； though I may not see it or even know where
it is； I am conscious of it。 It is company to me when I am alone； and I
seem to hear it in my dreams。 There is no music as sweet to me as its
song。 When you sang with me that day in church； I seemed to hear it
ripple in your voice。 It says to me more than the birds do； more than the
rarest plants I find。 It seems to live with me and for me。 It is my
earliest recollection； I know it will be my last； for I shall die in its embrace。
Do you think； Nellie；〃 he continued； stopping short and gazing earnestly in
her face〃do you think that the chiefs knew this when they called me
'Sleeping Water'？〃
To Miss Nellie's several gifts I fear the gods had not added poetry。 A
slight knowledge of English verse of a select character； un