She thought little
of what he said, lost in her perfect content.
"When we've got the gold we'll take up land and I'll build a house for
you, a good house, my wife won't live in a tent. It'll be of logs,
strong and water tight, and as soon as they bring things in--and the
ships will be coming soon--we'll furnish it well. And that'll be only
the beginning."
"Where will we build it?" she said, catching his enthusiasm and
straining her eyes as if then and there to pick out the spot.
"By the river under a pine."
"With a place for Daddy John," she cried, stretching a hand toward the
old man. "He must be there too."
He took it and stood linked to the embracing pair by the girl's warm
grasp.
"I'll stick by the tent," he said; "no four walls for me."
"And you two," she looked from one to the other, "will wash for the
gold and I'll take care of you. I'll keep everything clean and
comfortable. It'll be a cozy little home--our log house under the
pine."
She laughed, the first time in many weeks, and the clear sound rang
joyously.
"And when we've got all the dust we want," Courant went on, his spirit
expanding on the music of her laughter, "we'll go down to the coast.
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