"Why?" he asked. "Listen, and I will tell you. Four years ago I came up into this country from down there--the world they call Civilization. I came up with every ideal and every dream I ever had broken and crushed. And up here I found God's Country. I found new ideals and new dreams. I am going back with them. But they can never be broken as the others were--because--now--I have found something that will make them live. And that something is YOU! Don't let my words startle you. I mean them to be as pure as the sun that shines over our heads. If I leave you now--if I never see you again--you will have filled this wonderful world for me. And if I could do something to prove this--to make you happier--why, I'd thank God for having sent me ashore to cook a mess of prunes."
He released her han
