oved this dark-eyed, auburn-haired waif. He knew it now, and never
again could he doubt it. The very coming of this man into the field of
contest, and his calm assumption of proprietorship and authority, had
combined to awaken the slumbering heart of the young officer. From
that instant Naida Gillis became to him the one and only woman in all
this world. Ay, and he would fight to win her; never confessing defeat
until final decision came from her own lips. He paused, half inclined
to retrace his steps and have the matter out. He turned just in time
to face a dazzling vision of fluffy lace and flossy hair beside him in
the dimly lighted hall.

"Oh, Lieutenant Brant!" and the vision clung to his arm tenderly. "It
is such a relief to find that you are unhurt. Did--did you kill him?"

Brant stared. "I--I fear I scarcely comprehend, Miss Spencer. I have
certainly taken no one's life. What can you mean?"

"Oh, I am so glad; and Naida will be, too. I must go right back and
tell the poor girl, for she is nearly distracted. Oh, Lieutenant, is
n't it the most romantic situation that ever was? And he is such a
mysterious character!"

"To whom do you refer? Really, I am quite in the dark."

"Why, Mr. Hampton, of course. Oh, I know all about it. Naida felt so
badly over your meeting this morning that I just compelled her to
confide her whole story to me. And didn't you fight at all?"

"Most assuredly not," and Brant's eyes began to exhibit amusement;
"indeed, we parted quite friendly."

"I told Naida I thought you would. People don't take such things so
seriously nowadays, do they? But Naida is such a child and so full of
romantic notions, that she worried terribly about it. Is n't it
perfectly delightful what he is going to do for her?"

"I am sure I do not know."

"Why, had n't you heard? He wants to send her East to a
boarding-school and give her a fine education. Do you know,
Lieutenant, I am simply dying to see him; he is such a perfectly
splendid Western character."

"It would afford me pleasure to present you," and the soldier's
downcast face brightened with anticipation.

"Do--do you really think it would be proper? But they do things so
differently out here, don't they? Oh, I wish you would."

Feeling somewhat doubtful as to what might be the result, Brant knocked
upon the door he had just closed, and, in response to the voice within,
opened it. Hampton sat upon the chair by the windo