helplessly with
the lace of her gown, but she began to show signs of collapse.

"I sent him away--I--gave him up, when he wanted me--wanted me--Oh,
daddy! he wants to marry me--and I sent him away."

Alluna uttered a short, satisfied exclamation, and, looking at Gale
meaningly, said:

"It is good. It is good. He is a stranger."

But the man disregarded her interruption.

"He asked you to marry him in--in--in spite of who you are and what I
am?"

"Yes; he is ready to give up his ambition, his army, his future, his
family, everything, for me--to sacrifice it all; and so, of course, I
couldn't let him." She spoke simply, as if her father would surely
understand and approve her action, while in her voice was a note of
inevitable resignation. "You see, I never understood what my blood
would mean to him until to-night. I've been selfish and thoughtless, I
guess. I just wanted him, and wanted him to take me; but now that he is
mine, I love him more than I thought. He is so dear to me that I can't
drag him down--I can't--I can't!" She went to the open door and stood
leaning against the casing, facing the cool outer darkness, her face
hidden from them, her form sagging wearily, as if the struggle had
sapped her whole strength.

Alluna crept to the trader and looked up at him eagerly, whispering:

"This will end in a little while, John. She is young. She can go back
to the Mission to-morrow. She will soon forget."

"Forget! Do you think she can forget?"

"Any woman can forget. Only men remember."

"It is the red blood in you--lying. You know you lie."

"It is to save your life," she said.

"I know; but it's no use." To Necia he said; "You needn't worry, little
daughter." But her ears were deaf. "You needn't give him up, I
say--this will end all right."

Seeing that she gave no sign of heeding, he stepped closer, and swung
her about till she faced him.

"Can't you trust me this one time? You always have before, Necia. I say
he'll marry you, and it will all come out right."

She raised her hopeless eyes and strove gamely to meet his, then,
failing, broke away, and turned back to the door. "I knew you couldn't
understand. I--I--oh, God, I love him so!" With a cry like that of a
wounded animal she fled out into the night, where she could give vent
to her anguish unseen; for she had never wept before her father, but
always crept away and hid herself until her grief was spent. Gale would
have started after her, but