Meanwhile, Donald called himself unflattering names for so far forgetting time and place in his wooing, but smiled as he thought, “She has challenged me to race for her, and I shall win at last. The race is to the one with the best staying qualities, and I shall not know when I am beaten. She is worth racing for.�
CHAPTER XXX
THE COMING OF THE STORM
Winter was slow in claiming sovereignty over Nebraska in the year of which we write, and coquetted with summer through all the weeks of November and December. Such snows as had come were light and short-lived, and the winds had been less furious and threatening than usual at this season of the year.
Donald and Tibby had enjoyed many rides over the gray plains and river wold, and were apparently the best of friends, notwithstanding Donald’s premature declaration. But their camaraderie was far from sweethearting. It looked as if Tibby had decided to put their acquaintance on the I’ll-be-a-sister-to-you footing.
To a less determined man than Donald this might have been disheartening, but he had firm faith in the efficacy of persistence, and though he never annoyed Tibby with declarations of love, he made her ever conscious of him as the considerate, attentive lover.
As for Tibby, she badgered, cajoled, teased, and tried his temper and patience in the manner for which girls have been noted since the world began. Why it is that the average girl delights in such actions has never been satisfactorily explained, the parallel of such conduct being found only in the cat playing with the live mouse.
With Tibby the feline nature seemed fully developed, and she toyed with the victim in her claws most exasperatingly. Never consciously had she given Donald reason to think, or flatter himself, that she cared for him except as a good comrade with whom to pass the winter and summer of her sojourn in this western land.
But when Tibby behaved worst there lurked a smile of conscious power in the unrevealed depths of Donald’s gray eyes, much to the girl’s vexation and discomfiture, while he remained outwardly unruffled. He had entered the race to win, and his nature was buoyant and strong. Why need he be discouraged? Physically strong, handsome, and athletic, he was possessed of average ability, enjoyed a good income, and his future looked promising. Why should he fail? Thus he reasoned.
A fortuitous chain of events had thrown Donald into Tibby’s society and kept him in close communication with her until he felt that he knew her better, appreciated more her real worth, of nature and character, than any one else about her. She had challenged him to win her. He would make it the business of his life to do so.
Mrs. Wylie’s change of plans had aided him in keeping Tibby in the community, though had she gone away he doubtless would have followed her. The bereaved woman shrank from meeting her society friends in Forest City, and to go to the Pacific Slope was to put her in proximity to her recreant husband, and—sadder to contemplate—his newly wedded wife. And Elinor had listened to her brother’s persuasions to spend the winter in their home. Thus, much to Donald’s satisfaction, Tibby had remained to be his daily companion in this isolated region. The world, with its modern pleasures, seemed far away from them. He need fear no competitor while she remained here. For this reason Donald could bide his time, free from anxious disquietude.