man.

The girls waited impatiently for Kit. "I do wish she would hurry,"
fussed Bet. "What's keeping her?"

"Maybe she found Young Mary there, as she hoped, and as it's been such
a long time since they've seen each other, they'll need to do a lot of
talking to make up for lost time."

But Kit's meeting with her Indian friend was very different from what
the girls pictured.

Even Kit was surprised and a little hurt at the lack of interest in her
childhood friend.

The Indian girl was already dressed in the bright silk gown that Kit
had brought her. Kit caught the girl in her arms and squeezed her
tight. But Young Mary was as rigid as a post. Not by word or sign did
she betray the fact that she was glad to see Kit.

But Kit understood. She saw a bright light in Mary's eyes and was
satisfied.

"Why Mary, you're a beauty in that dress. I want you to come over and
meet my friends."

Mary shook her head. She was already gliding away toward the canyon
where the Indians were camped by the stream. They had chosen the same
spot that the professor had used for a camping site.

And when Kit joined the group of Indians by the side of the creek she
realized that Mary was now a grown-up Indian woman. She did not run or
dance about any more, but seated herself with the squaws and seemed
happy.

Mary had returned to her people. There was no doubt about it. She
would never again be the chum of the white girl. There were times when
Kit felt angry; it seemed like a reflection on herself, on her loyalty.

The girls watched with amusement Young Mary's pride in her new dress.
There was a buzz of unintelligible comments from the squaws as they
pressed about the girl, fingering the material and patting the silk.

Kit learned before long why Mary was so preoccupied with herself. She
was in love. In love with a man of her own race.

Old Mary shrugged her shoulders and grunted her disapproval.

But in spite of her shrugs, the older woman was proud. Young Mary was
making a good choice. Andreas was a fine young Indian. He had a farm
of his own on the San Pablo. They were both young and could work and
would have many children to bless them.

As Kit had prophesied, the Indian women were not interested in basket
weaving. They shook their heads vehemently. Then at Bet's proposal
that they sell her some that were already made, the ones they carried
along, their heads shook more than ever and their grunts and frown