willa cather: history class gem

"There was nothing left for them to say. They had spent the last penny of their small change; there was nothing left but gold. The day of love tokens was past. They had now only their hearts to give each other."

"She felt as the pond must feel when it held the moon like that; when it encircled and swelled with the image of gold."

Willa Cather [O Pioneers!]