Her Letter—Half-title 11 Is wasting an hour upon you 13 That waits—on the stairs—for me yet 15 With whom do I waltz, flirt, or talk? 17 To look supernaturally grand 19 And the hum of the smallest of talk 21 With the man that shot Sandy McGee. (In color) 23 The man that shot Sandy McGee 25 Of that ride,—that to me was the rarest 27 And swam the North Fork, and all that 29 Mamma says my taste still is low 31 That my heart's somewhere there in the ditches 33 His Answer—Half-title 35 I should write what he runs off his tongue. (In color) 37 Being asked by an intimate party 39 That with you, Miss, he "challenges Fate" 41 Though the claim not, at date, paying wages 43 And the rose that you gave him. (In color) 45 Is frequent and painful and free 47 Imparts but small ease to the style 49 In this green laurel spray that he treasures 51 But he lies there quite peaceful and pensive 53 For I have a small favor to ask you 55 Here's my pile; which it's six hundred dollars 57 Her Last Letter—Half-title 59 That you last wrote the 4th of December 61 And you're not to be found in the ditches. (In color) 63 From this spot, that you said was the fairest 65 To London, when Pa wired, "Stop" 67 And as to the stories you've heard 69 Whose father sold clothes on the Bar 71 With a look, Joe, that made her eyes drop. (In color) 73 To find myself here, all alone 75 Ah! gone is the old necromancy 77 And you called the place Eden, you know. (In color) 79 And the copse where you once tied my shoe-knot 81 There's the rustle of silk on the sidewalk 83 But there's still the "lap, lap" of the river. (In color) 85 There's a lot that remains which one fancies 87 He thinks he may find you 89 And good-night to the cañon that answers 91 I've just got your note. You deceiver! 93 Now I know why they had me transferred here. (In color) 95 How dared you get rich—you great stupid! 97 The man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor! 99 Tailpiece 100 GABRIEL CONROY By Bret Harte CONTENTS BOOK I.—ON THE THRESHOLD. I. WITHOUT 1 II. WITHIN 9 III. GABRIEL 21 IV. NATURE SHOWS THEM THE WAY 26 V. OUT OF THE WOODS—INTO THE SHADOW 30 VI. FOOTPRINTS 36 VII. IN WHICH THE FOOTPRINTS BEGIN TO FADE 40 VIII. THE FOOTPRINTS GROW FAINTER 43 IX. IN WHICH THE FOOTPRINTS ARE LOST FOR EVER 47 BOOK II.—AFTER FIVE YEARS. I. ONE HORSE GULCH 54 II. MADAME DEVARGES 65 III. MRS. MARKLE 74 IV. IN WHICH THE ARTFUL GABRIEL IS DISCOVERED 87 V. SIMPLICITY versus SAGACITY 95 BOOK III.—THE LEAD. I. AN OLD PIONEER OF '49 108 II. A CLOUD OF WITNESSES 118 III. THE CHARMING MRS. SEPULVIDA 125 IV. FATHER FELIPE 132 V. IN WHICH THE DONNA MARIA MAKES AN IMPRESSION 140 VI. THE LADY OF GRIEF 151 VII. A LEAF OUT OF THE PAST 165 VIII. THE BULLS OF THE BLESSED TRINITY 171 BOOK IV.—DRIFTING.