ay, while playing in a
park, threw mud on a swan, imagining that he had besmirched the bird
forever until it dived under the water and reappeared again as white as
before. Why, even if I at this moment did not possess the absolute proof
of her innocence, nobody could ever persuade me to believe that story.
You don't know the Indian as I do, Miss Van Ashton. The high-caste
Indian women are quite as incapable of such things as you are. It was a
devilishly clever stroke on Don Felipe's part, I'll admit, but he has
deceived himself as thoroughly as the rest of the world."

"What proof have you?" she asked with a surprised and mystified look,
her woman's curiosity thoroughly aroused. Dick chuckled softly in reply.

"What are you laughing at?" she demanded, not a little nettled by his
manner.

"I'm not laughing," he answered. "I'm merely trying to smother the rage
you have aroused in me by dallying with me in this manner when you know
perfectly well that I asked you to come here to tell you that I--"

"Stop!" she commanded authoritatively. "I wish to see that proof before
anything further passes between us."

"Will you never become serious?" he asked, drawing an envelope from his
pocket, the contents of which he had shown Captain Forest. "It's
strange," he continued, "that this document should concern you as well
as Don Felipe and Chiquita."

"What do you mean?" she asked in astonishment. Again he laughed softly
by way of reply.

"It's funny you should get mixed up in their affairs!"

"I don't understand you," she interrupted, more mystified and irritated
than ever. "Give me that letter, Mr. Yankton!" she demanded, holding out
her hand.

"Then step out into the light, please, you lovely, tantalizing witch,"
he answered, drawing the papers from the envelope and handing them to
her. "If I didn't love you to distraction, I wouldn't stand this sort of
thing a minute longer. God!" he cried, glancing heavenward, "you'll be
the death of me yet."

"Have you forgotten, Mr. Yankton?" she asked calmly, her face turning a
delicate crimson.

"Then read--read!" he cried in desperation, scarcely able to control
himself. She knew it could not last much longer. She slowly unfolded the
large sheets of paper and began to read their contents in the moonlight.

"Aloud, please," he said.

"Why aloud?"

"Oh, just as you please!"

"Very well, if you wish it. 'Dear Dick,' she began with a slight
hesitancy. 'When this reaches you I