up.
"What a stroke of luck!" he cried.

It had something the effect of an explosion there in the quiet room
where they had been talking so prosily. Colina became panicky. "I
don't understand you!" she said haughtily.

"You do!" he cried. "You know I didn't paddle three hundred miles
up-stream to talk to him! Never in my life had I anything so hard to
go through with as the last two hours. I didn't dare look at you for
fear of giving myself away."

There was an extraordinary quality of passion in the simple words.
Colina felt faint and terrified. What was one to do with a man like
this! She mounted her queenliest manner. "Don't make me sorry I asked
you here," she said.

"Sorry?" he said. "Why should you be? You can do what you like! I
can't pretend. I must say my say the best way I can. I may not get
another chance!"

Colina had to fight both herself and him. She made a gallant stand.
"You are ridiculous!" she said. "I will leave the room until my father
comes back if you can't contain yourself."

He was plainly terrified by the threat, nevertheless he had the
assurance to put himself between her and the door.

"You have no cause to be angry with me," he said. "You know I do not
disrespect you!" He was silent for a moment. His voice broke huskily.
"You are wonderful to me! I have to keep telling myself you are only a
woman--of flesh and blood like myself--else I would be groveling on the
floor at your feet, and you would despise me!"

Colina stared at him in haughty silence.

"I love you!" he whispered with odd abruptness. "No woman need be
insulted by hearing that. You came upon me to-day like a bolt of
lightning. You have put your mark on me for life! I will never be
myself again."

His voice changed; he faltered, and searched for words. "I know I'm
rough! I know women like to be courted regularly. It's right, too!
But I have no time! I may never see you alone again. Your father will
take care of that! I must tell you while I can. You can take your
time to answer."

Colina contrived to laugh.

The sound maddened him. He took a step forward, and a vein in his
forehead stood out. She held her ground disdainfully.

"Don't do that!" he whispered. "It's not fair! I--I can't stand it!"

"Why must you tell me?" asked Colina. "What do you expect?"

"You!" he whispered hoarsely. "If God is good to me! For life."

"You are mad!" she murmured.

"Maybe," he said, eying