Page:Honore Willsie--Judith of the godless valley.djvu/346

 more influence. You don't really think for a moment that Peter will marry her, do you?" Douglas spoke contemptuously.

"Well, if he doesn't marry her, it won't be because he considers that he's led a perfect life, I hope."

"That isn't the point. I think that men insist on marrying decent women because there's a race instinct that makes a man turn to something better than himself for his mate. It's what lifts the race, keeps the spiritual side of life moving uphill instead of down. If this wasn't true, human beings would never have got out of the monkey stage."

Judith looked at Doug with interest. "That might all be true, but I hope you don't put that up as an excuse for the double code."

"No. I don't. I'm just stating one of the selfish, brutal facts of life."

Judith made no reply, and for a long time Douglas made no attempt to break the silence. It was enough to be sitting under the brilliant heavens with Judith's wonderful body warm against his side. The far-drawn cry of the coyotes disturbing him now no more than it did the Wolf Cub listening but unheeding.

"I can't help thinking about old Johnny," said Judith at last. "It's going to worry me terribly when I'm by myself again. I should have stopped and taken care of him."

"It's not going to worry me," returned Douglas quietly. "The poor old fellow was unhappy and useless. He died a real hero's death for some one he loved. Folks in Lost Chief are going to remember that instead of his poor old feeble mind."