“Fine, fine!” ejaculated Roeder. “But they ain't got no garden. A house don't seem anythin' t' me without a garden. Do you know what I think would be th' most beautiful thing in th' world? A baby in a rose-garden! Do you know, I ain't had a baby in my hands, excep' Ned Ramsey's little kid, once, for ten year!” Kate's face shone with sympathy. “How dreadful!” she cried. “I couldn't live without a baby about.” “Like babies, do you? Well, well. Boys? Like boys?” “Not a bit better than girls,” said Kate, stoutly. “I like boys,” responded Roeder, with conviction. “My mother liked boys. She had three girls, but she liked me a damned sight the best.” Kate laughed outright. “Why do you swear?” she said. “I never heard a man swear before,--at least, not one with whom I was talking. That's one of your gulch habits. You must get over it.” Roeder's blond face turned scarlet. “You must excuse me,” he pleaded. “I'll cure myself of it! Jest give me a chance.” This was a little more personal than Kate approved of, and she raised her parasol to conceal her annoyance. It was a brilliant little fluff of a thing which looked as if it were made of butterflies' wings. Roeder touched it with awe. “You have sech beautiful things,” he said. “I didn't know women wore sech nice things. Now that dress--it's like--I don't know what it's like.” It was a simple little taffeta, with warp and woof of azure and of cream, and gay knots of ribbon about it. “We have the advantage of men,” she said. “I often think one of the greatest drawbacks to being a man would be the sombre clothes. I like to wear the prettiest things that can be found.” “Lace?” queried Roeder. “Do you like lace?” “I should say so! Did you ever see a woman who didn't?” “Hu--um! These women I've known don't know lace,--these wives of th' men out here. They're th' only kind I've seen this long time.” “Oh, of course, but I mean--” “I know what you mean. My mother has a chest full of linen an' lace. She showed it t' me th' day I left. 'Peter,' she said, 'some day you bring a wife home with you, an' I'll give you that lace an' that linen.' An' I'm goin' t' do it, too,” he said quietly. “I hope so,” said Kate, with her eyes moist. “I hope you will, and that your mother will be very happy.” . . . . . . .