Part 1 From Out The Canyon Chapter 6 To Be Or Not To Be

They were seated rather close together upon the steep hillside, gazing
silently down upon squalid Glencaid. At such considerable distance all
the dull shabbiness of the mining town had disappeared, and it seemed
almost ideal, viewed against the natural background of brown rocks and
green trees. All about them was the clear, invigorating air of the
uplands, through which the eyes might trace for miles the range of
irregular rocky hills, while just above, seemingly almost within touch
of the extended hand, drooped the blue circling sky, unflecked by
cloud. Everywhere was loneliness, no sound telling of the labor of man
reached them, and the few scattered buildings far below resembling mere
doll-houses.

They had conversed only upon the constantly changing beauty of the
scene, or of incidents connected with their upward climb, while moving
slowly along the trail through the fresh morning sunshine. Now they
sat in silence, the young girl, with cheeks flushed and dreamy eyes
aglow, gazing far off along the valley, the man watching her curiously,
and wondering how best to approach his task. For the first time he
began to realize the truth, which had been partially borne in upon him
the previous evening by Wynkoop, that this was no mere child with whom
he dealt, but a young girl upon the verge of womanhood. Such knowledge
began to reveal much that came before him as new, changing the entire
nature of their present relationship, as well as the scope of his own
plain duty. It was his wont to look things squarely in the face, and
unpleasant and unwelcome as was the task now confronting him, during
the long night hours he had settled it once for all--the preacher's
words were just.