ow is also in your hair. I,
sinful one that I am, send you with this letter, my miniature and a
lock of my hair, that you may realize the great change that has
been wrought in me by time. This letter I surely will post. May it
take to you in the wilderness a part of my wretchedness, for so
selfish am I that I would take comfort in knowing that I do not
suffer alone. I retract the last sentence and in its place ask, not
that you suffer, but that you do not forget. In health I am blessed
beyond my deserts, and I hope the same comfort abides with you. You
will hear from me never again. I have allowed myself this one
delightful moment of sin, and God, I know, will give me strength
against another. I wish you all the good that one human being can
wish another.

"Regretfully, fondly, farewell.

"RITA."

Dic, almost in tears, returned the letter to Billy Little, and that
worthy man, wishing to rob the scene of its sentimentality, said:--

"She says she supposes my hair is gray! She doesn't know I am as bald as
a gourd. Here is her miniature. I'll not send her mine; she might
laugh."

Dic took the picture and saw a sweet, tender face, fringed by white
curls, and aglow with soft, brown eyes.

"Do you see a resemblance in the miniature to--to any one you know?"
asked Billy Little.

"By George!" exclaimed Dic, holding the picture at arm's length,
"Rita--her mouth, her eyes; the same name, too," and he kissed the
miniature rapturously.

"Look here, young fellow," cried Billy Little. "Hand me that miniature.
You shan't be kissing all my female friends. By Jove! if she were to
come over here, I'd drive you out of the settlement with a shot-gun,
'deed if I wouldn't. Now you will probably change your mind about
unselfishly surrendering Rita to Williams. I tell you, Dic, a fool
conscience is more to be dreaded than a knavish heart."

"You are always right, Billy Little, though, to tell you the truth, I
had no intention whatever of surrendering Rita to any one," returned
Dic.

"I know you hadn't. Of course I knew you could not even have spoken
about it had you any thought that it might be possible."

A KISS AND A DUEL

CHAPTER XI

A KISS AND A DUEL

I shall not attempt to give you an account of Dic's numerous journeyings
to Indianapolis. With no abatement