Not until evening, upon the moonlit eastern gallery, did he
find it. It was upon the hand that he had thought lost to him forever,
and so he was moved to repeat certain nonsense that he had been
commanded never, never to utter again. Teddy's fences were down.
This time there was no ambition to stand in the way, and the wooing
was as natural and successful as should be between ardent shepherd and
gentle shepherdess.
The prairies changed to a garden. The Rancho de las Sombras became the
Ranch of Light.
A few days later Octavia received a letter from Mr. Bannister, in
reply to one she had written to him asking some questions about her
business. A portion of the letter ran as follows:
"I am at a loss to account for your references to the sheep ranch.
Two months after your departure to take up your residence upon it,
it was discovered that Colonel Beaupree's title was worthless. A
deed came to light showing that he disposed of the property before
his death. The matter was reported to your manager, Mr. Westlake,
who at once repurchased the property. It is entirely beyond my
powers of conjecture to imagine how you have remained in ignorance
of this fact. I beg that you that will at once confer with that
gentleman, who will, at least, corroborate my statement.
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