ingandthepartyactuallysetoff。GunnerandAxelwentwithThea，andRayhadaskedSpanishJohnnytocomeandtobringMrs。Tellamantezandhismandolin。Raywasartlesslyfondofmusic，especiallyofMexicanmusic。HeandMrs。Tellamantezhadgotupthelunchbetweenthem，andtheyweretomakecoffeeinthedesert。
　　WhentheyleftMexicanTown，TheawasonthefrontseatwithRayandJohnny，andGunnerandAxelsatbe—
　　hindwithMrs。Tellamantez。Theyobjectedtothis，ofcourse，butthereweresomethingsaboutwhichTheawouldhaveherownway。"AsstubbornasaFinn，"Mrs。Kron—
　　borgsometimessaidofher，quotinganoldSwedishsaying。
　　WhentheypassedtheKohlers’，oldFritzandWunschwerecuttinggrapesatthearbor。Theagavethemabusi—
　　nesslikenod。Wunschcametothegateandlookedafterthem。HedivinedRayKennedy’shopes，andhedis—
　　trustedeveryexpeditionthatledawayfromthepiano。
　　UnconsciouslyhemadeTheapayforfrivolousnessofthissort。
　　AsRayKennedy’spartyfollowedthefaintroadacrossthesagebrush，theyheardbehindthemthesoundofchurchbells，whichgavethemasenseofescapeandboundlessfreedom。Everyrabbitthatshotacrossthepath，everysagehenthatflewupbythetrail，waslikearunawaythought，amessagethatonesentintothedesert。Astheywentfarther，theillusionofthemiragebecamemorein—
　　steadoflessconvincing；ashallowsilverlakethatspreadformanymiles，alittlemistyinthesunlight。Hereandthereonesawreflectedtheimageofaheifer，turnedloosetoliveuponthesparsesand—grass。Theyweremagnifiedtoapreposterousheightandlookedlikemammoths，pre—
　　historicbeastsstandingsolitaryinthewatersthatformanythousandsofyearsactuallywashedoverthatdesert；
　　——themirageitselfmaybetheghostofthatlong—vanished
　　sea。Beyondthephantomlakelaythelineofmany—coloredhills；rich，sun—bakedyellow，glowingturquoise，lavender，purple；alltheopen，pastelcolorsofthedesert。
　　Afterthefirstfivemilestheroadgrewheavier。Thehorseshadtoslowdowntoawalkandthewheelssankdeepintothesand，whichnowlayinlongridges，likewaves，wherethelasthighwindhaddriftedit。TwohoursbroughtthepartytoPedro’sCup，namedforaMexicandesperadowhohadonceheldthesheriffatbaythere。TheCupwasagreatamphitheater，cutoutinthehills，itsfloorsmoothandpackedhard，dottedwithsagebrushandgreasewood。
　　OneithersideoftheCuptheyellowhillsrannorthandsouth，withwindingravinesbetweenthem，fullofsoftsandwhichdraineddownfromthecrumblingbanks。Onthesurfaceofthisfluidsand，onecouldfindbitsofbrilliantstone，crystalsandagatesandonyx，andpetrifiedwoodasredasblood。Driedtoadsandlizardsweretobefoundthere，too。Birds，decomposingmorerapidly，leftonlyfeatheredskeletons。
　　Afteralittlereconnoitering，Mrs。Tellamantezdeclaredthatitwastimeforlunch，andRaytookhishatchetandbegantocutgreasewood，whichburnsfiercelyinitsgreenstate。ThelittleboysdraggedthebushestothespotthatMrs。Tellamantezhadchosenforherfire。Mexicanwomenliketocookoutofdoors。
　　AfterlunchTheasentGunnerandAxeltohuntforagates。"Ifyouseearattlesnake，run。Don’ttrytokillit，"sheenjoined。
　　Gunnerhesitated。"IfRaywouldletmetakethehatchet，Icouldkilloneallright。"
　　Mrs。TellamantezsmiledandsaidsomethingtoJohnnyinSpanish。
　　"Yes，"herhusbandreplied，translating，"theysayinMexico，killasnakebutneverhurthisfeelings。Downinthehotcountry，MUCHACHA，"turningtoThea，"peoplekeepapetsnakeinthehousetokillratsandmice。They
　　callhimthehousesnake。Theykeepalittlematforhimbythefire，andatnighthecurlupthereandsitwiththefamily，justasfriendly！"
　　Gunnersniffedwithdisgust。"Well，Ithinkthat’sadirtyMexicanwaytokeephouse；sothere！"
　　Johnnyshruggedhisshoulders。"Perhaps，"hemuttered。
　　AMexicanlearnstodivebelowinsultsorsoarabovethem，afterhecrossestheborder。
　　Bythistimethesouthwalloftheamphitheatercastanarrowshelfofshadow，andthepartywithdrewtothisrefuge。RayandJohnnybegantotalkabouttheGrandCanyonandDeathValley，twoplacesmuchshroudedinmysteryinthosedays，andThealistenedintently。Mrs。
　　Tellamanteztookoutherdrawn—workandpinnedittoherknee。Raycouldtalkwellaboutthelargepartoftheconti—
　　nentoverwhichhehadbeenknockedabout，andJohnnywasappreciative。
　　"Youbeenallover，prettynear。LikeaSpanishboy，"
　　hecommentedrespectfully。
　　Ray，whohadtakenoffhiscoat，whettedhispocket—
　　knifethoughtfullyonthesoleofhisshoe。"Ibegantobrowsearoundearly。Ihadamindtoseesomethingofthisworld，andIranawayfromhomebeforeIwastwelve。
　　Rustledformyselfeversince。"
　　"Ranaway？"Johnnylookedhopeful。"Whatfor？"
　　"Couldn’tmakeitgowithmyoldman，anddidn’ttaketofarming。Therewereplentyofboysathome。Iwasn’tmissed。"
　　Theawriggleddowninthehotsandandrestedherchinonherarm。"TellJohnnyaboutthemelons，Ray，pleasedo！"
　　Ray’ssolid，sunburnedcheeksgrewashaderedder，andhelookedreproachfullyatThea。"You’restuckonthatstory，kid。Youliketogetthelaughonme，don’tyou？
　　ThatwasthefinishingsplitIhadwithmyoldman，John。
　　Hehadaclaimalongthecreek，notfarfromDenver，and
　　raisedalittlegardenstuffformarket。Onedayhehadaloadofmelonsandhedecidedtotake’emtotownandsell’emalongthestreet，andhemademegoalonganddriveforhim。Denverwasn’tthequeencityitisnow，byanymeans，butitseemedaterriblebigplacetome；andwhenwegotthere，ifhedidn’tmakemedriverightupCapitolHill！Papgotoutandstoppedatfolkseshousestoaskiftheydidn’twanttobuyanymelons，andIwastodrivealongslow。ThefartherIwentthemadderIgot，butIwastryingtolookunconscious，whentheend—gatecamelooseandoneofthemelonsfelloutandsquashed。Justthenaswellgirl，alldressedup，comesoutofoneofthebighousesandcallsout，`Hello，boy，you’relosingyourmelons！’
　　Somedudesontheothersideofthestreettooktheirhatsofftoherandbegantolaugh。Icouldn’tstanditanylonger。Igrabbedthewhipandlitintothatteam，andtheytoreupthehilllikejack—rabbits，themdamnedmelonsbouncingoutthebackeveryjump，theoldmancussin’an’
　　yellin’behindandeverybodylaughin’。Ineverlookedbe—
　　hind，butthewholeofCapitolHillmusthavebeenamesswiththemsquashedmelons。Ididn’tstoptheteamtillI
　　gotoutofsightoftown。ThenIpulledupan’left’emwitharancherIwasacquaintedwith，andIneverwenthometogetthelickin’thatwaswaitin’forme。Iexpectit’swaitin’
　　formeyet。"
　　Thearolledoverinthesand。"Oh，IwishIcouldhaveseenthosemelonsfly，Ray！I’llneverseeanythingasfunnyasthat。Now，tellJohnnyaboutyourfirstjob。"
　　Rayhadacollectionofgoodstories。Hewasobservant，truthful，andkindly——perhapsthechiefrequisitesinagoodstory—teller。Occasionallyheusednewspaperphrases，conscientiouslylearnedinhiseffortsatself—instruction，butwhenhetalkednaturallyhewasalwaysworthlisteningto。
　　Neverhavinghadanyschoolingtospeakof，hehad，almostfromthetimehefirstranaway，triedtomakegoodhisloss。
　　Asasheep—herderhehadworriedanoldgrammartotatters，
　　andreadinstructivebookswiththehelpofapocketdic—
　　tionary。Bythelightofmanycamp—fireshehadpondereduponPrescott’shistories，andtheworksofWashingtonIrving，whichheboughtatahighpricefromabook—agent。
　　Mathematicsandphysicswereeasyforhim，butgeneralculturecamehard，andhewasdeterminedtogetit。Raywasafreethinker，andinconsistentlybelievedhimselfdamnedforbeingone。Whenhewasbraking，downontheSantaFe，attheendofhisrunheusedtoclimbintotheupperbunkofthecaboose，whileanoisygangplayedpokeraboutthestovebelowhim，andbytheroof—lampreadRobertIngersoll’sspeechesand"TheAgeofReason。"
　　Raywasaloyal—heartedfellow，andithadcosthimagreatdealtogiveuphisGod。Hewasoneofthestep—
　　childrenofFortune，andhehadverylittletoshowforallhishardwork；theotherfellowalwaysgotthebestofit。
　　Hehadcomeintoolate，ortooearly，onseveralschemesthathadmademoney。Hebroughtwithhimfromallhiswanderingsagooddealofinformation（moreorlesscorrectinitself，butunrelated，andthereforemisleading），ahighstandardofpersonalhonor，asentimentalvenerationforallwomen，badaswellasgood，andabitterhatredofEnglishmen。TheaoftenthoughtthatthenicestthingaboutRaywashisloveforMexicoandtheMexicans，whohadbeenkindtohimwhenhedrifted，ahomelessboy，overtheborder。InMexico，RaywasSenorKen—ay—dy，andwhenheansweredtothatnamehewassomehowadifferentfellow。HespokeSpanishfluently，andthesunnywarmthofthattonguekepthimfrombeingquiteashardashischin，orasnarrowashispopularscience。
　　WhileRaywassmokinghiscigar，heandJohnnyfelltotalkingaboutthegreatfortunesthathadbeenmadeintheSouthwest，andaboutfellowstheyknewwhohad"struckitrich。"
　　"Iguessyoubeeninonsomebigdealsdownthere？"
　　Johnnyaskedtrustfully。
　　Raysmiledandshookhishead。"I’vebeenoutonsome，John。I’veneverbeenexactlyinonany。Sofar，I’veeitherheldontoolongorletgotoosoon。Butmine’scomingtome，allright。"Raylookedreflective。Heleanedbackintheshadowanddugoutarestforhiselbowinthesand。
　　"ThenarrowestescapeIeverhad，wasintheBridalCham—
　　ber。IfIhadn’tletgothere，itwouldhavemademerich。
　　Thatwasaclosecall。"
　　Johnnylookeddelighted。"Youdon’say！Shewassilvermine，Iguess？"
　　"Iguessshewas！DownatLakeValley。Iputupafewhundredfortheprospector，andhegavemeabunchofstock。Beforewe’dgotanythingoutofit，mybrother—in—
　　lawdiedofthefeverinCuba。MysisterwasbesideherselftogethisbodybacktoColoradotoburyhim。Seemedfoolishtome，butshe’stheonlysisterIgot。It’sexpensivefordeadfolkstotravel，andIhadtosellmystockintheminetoraisethemoneytogetElmeronthemove。Twomonthsafterward，theboysstruckthatbigpocketintherock，fullofvirginsilver。TheynamedhertheBridalChamber。Itwasn’tore，youremember。Itwaspure，softmetalyoucouldhavemeltedrightdownintodollars。Theboyscutitoutwithchisels。IfoldElmerhadn’tplayedthattrickonme，I’dhavebeeninforaboutfiftythousand。
　　Thatwasaclosecall，Spanish。"
　　"Irecollec’。Whenthepocketgone，thetowngobust。"
　　"Youbet。Higher’nakite。Therewasnovein，justapocketintherockthathadsometimeoranothergotfilledupwithmoltensilver。You’dthinktherewouldbemoresomewhereabout，butNADA。There’sfoolsdiggingholesinthatmountainyet。"
　　WhenRayhadfinishedhiscigar，Johnnytookhisman—
　　dolinandbeganKennedy’sfavorite，"UltimoAmor。"Itwasnowthreeo’clockintheafternoon，thehottesthourintheday。Thenarrowshelfofshadowhadwideneduntiltheflooroftheamphitheaterwasmarkedoffintwohalves，
　　oneglitteringyellow，andonepurple。Thelittleboyshadcomebackandweremakingarobbers’cavetoenactthebolddeedsofPedrothebandit。Johnny，stretchedgrace—
　　fullyonthesand，passedfrom"UltimoAmor"to"FluviadeOro，"andthento"NochesdeAlgeria，"playinglan—
　　guidly。
　　Everyonewasbusywithhisownthoughts。Mrs。
　　Tellamantezwasthinkingofthesquareinthelittletowninwhichshewasborn；ofthewhitechurchsteps，withpeoplegenuflectingastheypassed，andtheround—toppedacaciatrees，andthebandplayingintheplaza。RayKen—
　　nedywasthinkingofthefuture，dreamingthelargeWesterndreamofeasymoney，ofafortunekickedupsomewhereinthehills，——anoilwell，agoldmine，aledgeofcopper。Healwaystoldhimself，whenheacceptedacigarfromanewlymarriedrailroadman，thatheknewenoughnottomarryuntilhehadfoundhisideal，andcouldkeepherlikeaqueen。
　　Hebelievedthatintheyellowheadoverthereinthesandhehadfoundhisideal，andthatbythetimeshewasoldenoughtomarry，hewouldbeabletokeepherlikeaqueen。
　　Hewouldkickitupfromsomewhere，whenhegotloosefromtherailroad。
　　Thea，stirredbytalesofadventure，oftheGrandCanyonandDeathValley，wasrecallingagreatadventureofherown。Earlyinthesummerherfatherhadbeeninvitedtoconductareunionofoldfrontiersmen，upinWyoming，nearLaramie，andhetookTheaalongwithhimtoplaytheorganandsingpatrioticsongs。TheretheystayedatthehouseofanoldranchmanwhotoldthemaboutaridgeupinthehillscalledLaramiePlain，wherethewagon—trailsoftheForty—ninersandtheMormonswerestillvisible。TheoldmanevenvolunteeredtotakeMr。
　　Kronborgupintothehillstoseethisplace，thoughitwasaverylongdrivetomakeinoneday。Theahadbeggedfranticallytogoalong，andtheoldrancher，flatteredbyherraptattentiontohisstories，hadintercededforher。
　　TheysetoutfromLaramiebeforedaylight，behindastrongteamofmules。AllthewaytherewasmuchtalkoftheForty—niners。TheoldrancherhadbeenateamsterinafreighttrainthatusedtocrawlbackandforthacrosstheplainsbetweenOmahaandCherryCreek，asDenverwasthencalled，andhehadmetmanyawagontrainboundforCalifornia。HetoldofIndiansandbuffalo，thirstandslaughter，wanderingsinsnowstorms，andlonelygravesinthedesert。
　　Theroadtheyfollowedwasawildandbeautifulone。Itledupandup，bygraniterocksandstuntedpines，arounddeepravinesandechoinggorges。Thetopoftheridge，whentheyreachedit，wasagreatflatplain，strewnwithwhiteboulders，withthewindhowlingoverit。Therewasnotonetrail，asTheahadexpected；therewereascore；deepfur—
　　rows，cutintheearthbyheavywagonwheels，andnowgrownoverwithdry，whitishgrass。Thefurrowsransidebyside；whenonetrailhadbeenworntoodeep，thenextpartyhadabandoneditandmadeanewtrailtotherightorleft。Theywere，indeed，onlyoldwagonruts，runningeastandwest，andgrownoverwithgrass。ButasThearanaboutamongthewhitestones，herskirtsblowingthiswayandthat，thewindbroughttohereyestearsthatmighthavecomeanyway。Theoldrancherpickedupanironox—shoefromoneofthefurrowsandgaveittoherforakeepsake。Tothewestonecouldseerangeafterrangeofbluemountains，andatlastthesnowyrange，withitswhite，windypeaks，thecloudscaughthereandthereontheirspurs。AgainandagainTheahadtohideherfacefromthecoldforamoment。Thewindneversleptonthisplain，theoldmansaid。Everylittlewhileeaglesflewover。
　　ComingupfromLaramie，theoldmanhadtoldthemthathewasinBrownsville，Nebraska，whenthefirsttele—
　　graphwireswereputacrosstheMissouriRiver，andthatthefirstmessagethatevercrossedtheriverwas"West—
　　wardthecourseofEmpiretakesitsway。"Hehadbeen
　　intheroomwhentheinstrumentbegantoclick，andallthementherehad，withoutthinkingwhattheyweredoing，takenofftheirhats，waitingbareheadedtohearthemes—
　　sagetranslated。Thearememberedthatmessagewhenshesighteddownthewagontrackstowardthebluemoun—
　　tains。Shetoldherselfshewouldnever，neverforgetit。
　　Thespiritofhumancourageseemedtoliveuptherewiththeeagles。Forlongafter，whenshewasmovedbyaFourth—of—Julyoration，oraband，oracircusparade，shewasapttorememberthatwindyridge。
　　To—dayshewenttosleepwhileshewasthinkingaboutit。WhenRaywakenedher，thehorseswerehitchedtothewagonandGunnerandAxelwerebeggingforaplaceonthefrontseat。Theairhadcooled，thesunwassetting，andthedesertwasonfire。TheacontentedlytookthebackseatwithMrs。Tellamantez。Astheydrovehomewardthestarsbegantocomeout，paleyellowinayellowsky，andRayandJohnnybegantosingoneofthoserailroaddittiesthatareusuallybornontheSouthernPacificandrunthelengthoftheSantaFeandthe"Q"systembeforetheydietogiveplacetoanewone。ThiswasasongaboutaGreaserdance，therefrainbeingsomethinglikethis：——
　　"Pedro，Pedro，swinghigh，swinglow，Andit’sallamandleftagain；
　　Forthere’sboysthat’sboldandthere’ssomethat’scold，ButthegoldboyscomefromSpain，Oh，thegoldboyscomefromSpain！"
　　VIII
　　Winterwaslongincomingthatyear。ThroughoutOctoberthedayswerebathedinsunlightandtheairwasclearascrystal。Thetownkeptitscheerfulsum—
　　meraspect，thedesertglistenedwithlight，thesandhillseverydaywentthroughmagicalchangesofcolor。Thescarletsagebloomedlateinthefrontyards，thecottonwoodleaveswerebrightgoldlongbeforetheyfell，anditwasnotuntilNovemberthatthegreenonthetamarisksbegantocloudandfade。TherewasaflurryofsnowaboutThanks—
　　giving，andthenDecembercameonwarmandclear。
　　Theahadthreemusicpupilsnow，littlegirlswhosemothersdeclaredthatProfessorWunschwas"muchtoosevere。"TheytooktheirlessonsonSaturday，andthis，ofcourse，cutdownhertimeforplay。Shedidnotreallymindthisbecauseshewasallowedtousethemoney——herpupilspaidhertwenty—fivecentsalesson——tofitupalittleroomforherselfupstairsinthehalf—story。Itwastheendroomofthewing，andwasnotplastered，butwassnuglylinedwithsoftpine。Theceilingwassolowthatagrownpersoncouldreachitwiththepalmofthehand，anditslopeddownoneitherside。Therewasonlyonewindow，butitwasadoubleoneandwenttothefloor。InOctober，whilethedayswerestillwarm，TheaandTilliepaperedtheroom，wallsandceilinginthesamepaper，smallredandbrownrosesonayellowishground。Theaboughtabrowncottoncarpet，andherbigbrother，Gus，putitdownforheroneSunday。Shemadewhitecheeseclothcurtainsandhungthemonatape。Hermothergaveheranoldwalnutdresserwithabrokenmirror，andshehadherowndumpywalnutsinglebed，andabluewashbowlandpitcherwhichshehaddrawnatachurchfairlottery。Attheheadofherbedshe
　　hadatallroundwoodenhat—crate，fromtheclothingstore。
　　This，standingonendanddrapedwithcretonne，madeafairlysteadytableforherlantern。Shewasnotallowedtotakealampupstairs，soRayKennedygaveherarailroadlanternbywhichshecouldreadatnight。
　　InwinterthisloftroomofThea’swasbitterlycold，butagainsthermother’sadvice——andTillie’s——shealwaysleftherwindowopenalittleway。Mrs。Kronborgdeclaredthatshe"hadnopatiencewithAmericanphysiology，"
　　thoughthelessonsabouttheinjuriouseffectsofalcoholandtobaccowerewellenoughfortheboys。TheaaskedDr。Archieaboutthewindow，andhetoldherthatagirlwhosangmustalwayshaveplentyoffreshair，orhervoicewouldgethusky，andthatthecoldwouldhardenherthroat。Theimportantthing，hesaid，wastokeepyourfeetwarm。OnverycoldnightsTheaalwaysputabrickintheovenaftersupper，andwhenshewentupstairsshewrappeditinanoldflannelpetticoatandputitinherbed。Theboys，whowouldneverheatbricksforthem—
　　selves，sometimescarriedoffThea’s，andthoughtitagoodjoketogetaheadofher。
　　WhenTheafirstplungedinbetweenherredblankets，thecoldsometimeskeptherawakeforagoodwhile，andshecomfortedherselfbyrememberingallshecouldof"PolarExplorations，"afat，calf—boundvolumeherfatherhadboughtfromabook—agent，andbythinkingaboutthemembersofGreely’sparty：howtheylayintheirfrozensleeping—bags，eachmanhoardingthewarmthofhisownbodyandtryingtomakeitlastaslongaspossibleagainsttheon—comingcoldthatwouldbeeverlasting。Afterhalfanhourorso，awarmwavecreptoverherbodyandround，sturdylegs；sheglowedlikealittlestovewiththewarmthofherownblood，andtheheavyquiltsandredblanketsgrewwarmwherevertheytouchedher，thoughherbreathsometimesfrozeonthecoverlid。Beforedaylight，herinter—
　　nalfireswentdownalittle，andsheoftenwakenedtofind
　　herselfdrawnupintoatightball，somewhatstiffinthelegs。
　　Butthatmadeitalltheeasiertogetup。
　　TheacquisitionofthisroomwasthebeginningofanewerainThea’slife。Itwasoneofthemostimportantthingsthateverhappenedtoher。Hitherto，exceptinsummer，whenshecouldbeoutofdoors，shehadlivedinconstantturmoil；thefamily，thedayschool，theSunday—School。
　　Theclamoraboutherdrownedthevoicewithinherself。Intheendofthewing，separatedfromtheotherupstairssleeping—roomsbyalong，cold，unfinishedlumberroom，hermindworkedbetter。Shethoughtthingsoutmoreclearly。Pleasantplansandideasoccurredtoherwhichhadnevercomebefore。Shehadcertainthoughtswhichwerelikecompanions，ideaswhichwerelikeolderandwiserfriends。Sheleftthemthereinthemorning，whenshefin—
　　isheddressinginthecold，andatnight，whenshecameupwithherlanternandshutthedoorafterabusyday，shefoundthemawaitingher。Therewasnopossiblewayofheatingtheroom，butthatwasfortunate，forotherwiseitwouldhavebeenoccupiedbyoneofherolderbrothers。
　　Fromthetimewhenshemovedupintothewing，Theabegantoliveadoublelife。Duringtheday，whenthehourswerefulloftasks，shewasoneoftheKronborgchildren，butatnightshewasadifferentperson。OnFridayandSatur—
　　daynightsshealwaysreadforalongwhileaftershewasinbed。Shehadnoclock，andtherewasnoonetonagher。
　　RayKennedy，onhiswayfromthedepottohisboarding—
　　house，oftenlookedupandsawThea’slightburningwhentherestofthehousewasdark，andfeltcheeredasbyafriendlygreeting。Hewasafaithfulsoul，andmanydis—
　　appointmentshadnotchangedhisnature。Hewasstill，atheart，thesameboywho，whenhewassixteen，hadset—
　　tleddowntofreezewithhissheepinaWyomingblizzard，andhadbeenrescuedonlytoplaythelosinggameoffidel—
　　itytoothercharges。
　　Rayhadnoveryclearideaofwhatmightbegoingon
　　inThea’shead，butheknewthatsomethingwas。HeusedtoremarktoSpanishJohnny，"Thatgirlisdevelopingsomethingfine。"TheawaspatientwithRay，eveninregardtothelibertieshetookwithhername。Outsidethefamily，everyoneinMoonstone，exceptWunschandDr。
　　Archie，calledher"Thee—a，"butthisseemedcoldanddis—
　　tanttoRay，sohecalledher"Thee。"Once，inamomentofexasperation，Theaaskedhimwhyhedidthis，andheexplainedthatheoncehadachum，Theodore，whosenamewasalwaysabbreviatedthus，andthatsincehewaskilleddownontheSantaFe，itseemednaturaltocallsomebody"Thee。"Theasighedandsubmitted。Shewasalwayshelplessbeforehomelysentimentandusuallychangedthesubject。
　　ItwasthecustomforeachofthedifferentSunday—
　　SchoolsinMoonstonetogiveaconcertonChristmasEve。
　　Butthisyearallthechurchesweretouniteandgive，aswasannouncedfromthepulpits，"asemi—sacredconcertofpickedtalent"attheoperahouse。TheMoonstoneOrchestra，underthedirectionofProfessorWunsch，wastoplay，andthemosttalentedmembersofeachSunday—
　　Schoolweretotakepartintheprogramme。Theawasputdownbythecommittee"forinstrumental。"Thismadeherindignant，forthevocalnumberswerealwaysmorepopular。Theawenttothepresidentofthecommitteeanddemandedhotlyifherrival，LilyFisher，weregoingtosing。
　　Thepresidentwasabig，florid，powderedwoman，afierceW。C。T。U。worker，oneofThea’snaturalenemies。HernamewasJohnson；herhusbandkepttheliverystable，andshewascalledMrs。LiveryJohnson，todistinguishherfromotherfamiliesofthesamesurname。Mrs。JohnsonwasaprominentBaptist，andLilyFisherwastheBaptistprodigy。TherewasanotveryChristianrivalrybetweentheBaptistChurchandMr。Kronborg’schurch。
　　WhenTheaaskedMrs。Johnsonwhetherherrivalwastobeallowedtosing，Mrs。Johnson，withaneagerness