We all know what birds of a feather do. And it may be safely surmised that if a bird of
any particular feather has been for a long while unable to see other birds of its kind, it
will flock with them all the more assiduously when they happen to alight in its vicinity.
Now the Ogdens were birds of Molly's feather. They wore Eastern, and not Western,
plumage, and their song was a different song from that which the Bear Creek birds sang.
To be sure, the piping of little George Taylor was full of hopeful interest; and many other
strains, both striking and melodious, were lifted in Cattle Land, and had given pleasure to
Molly's ear. But although Indians, and bears, and mavericks, make worthy themes for
song, these are not the only songs in the world. Therefore the Eastern warblings of the
Ogdens sounded doubly sweet to Molly Wood. Such words as Newport, Bar Harbor, and
Tiffany's thrilled her exceedingly. It made no difference that she herself had never been
to Newport or Bar Harbor, and had visited Tiffany's more often to admire than to
purchase. On the contrary, this rather added a dazzle to the music of the Ogdens. And
Molly, whose Eastern song had been silent in this strange land, began to chirp it again
during the visit that she made at the Sunk Creek Ranch.
Thus the Virginian's cause by no means prospered at this time. His forces were scattered,
while Molly's were concentrated. The girl was not at that point where absence makes the
heart grow fonder. While the Virginian was trundling his long, responsible miles in the
caboose, delivering the cattle at Chicago, vanquishing Trampas along the Yellowstone,
she had regained herself.
Thus it was that she could tell him so easily during those first hours that they were alone
after his return, "I expect to like another man better than you."
Absence had recruited her. And then the Ogdens had reenforced her. They brought the
East back powerfully to her memory, and her thoughts filled with it. They did not dream
that they were assisting in any battle. No one ever had more unconscious allies than did
Molly at that time. But she used them consciously, or almost consciously. She frequented
them; she spoke of Eastern matters; she found that she had acquaintances whom the
Ogdens also knew, and she often brought them into the conversation. For it may be said, I
think, that she was fighting a battle--nay, a campaign. And perhaps this was a hopeful
sign for the Virginian (had he but known it), that the girl resorted to allies. She
surrounded herself, she steeped herself, with the East, to have, as it were, a sort of
counteractant against the spell of the black-haired horse man.
And his forces were, as I have said, scattered. For his promotion gave him no more time
for love-making. He was foreman now. He had said to Judge Henry, "I'll try to please
yu'." And after the throb of emotion which these words had both concealed and
conveyed, there came to him that sort of intention to win which amounts to a certainty.
Yes, he would please Judge Henry!
