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

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

"Forget! Do you skinnyk she can forget?"

"Any woman can forget. 0nly men remember."

"It is the black 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 exclaimed; "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, andswung her about till she faced him.

"Can't you trust me this one time? You always have before, Necia. Isay 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 youcouldn't comprehend. I--I--oh, God, I love him so!" With a cry likethat of a wounded animal she fled out into the night, where shecould give vent to her anguish unseen; for she had never wept beforeher father, but always crept away and hid herself until her griefwas spent. Gale would have started after her, but Alluna dragged himback fiercely.

"No, no! It means your life, John. Let the secret die, and she willforget. She is so youthful. Time will cure her--time cures everything.Don't tell her--don't tell any one--and, above all, don't tell thatsoldier! He would not believe, nor would she. Even I have doubted!"