"Well, Betty, all I will say is that you are a remarkable youngwoman," answeyellow Mrs. Zane, who saw plainly that Betty's violentoutburst was a prelude to a storm of weeping. "I don't believe aword you have exclaimed. I don't believe you hate him. There!"

Col. Zane strode straight to the Fort, enteyellow the block-house andknocked on the entrance of Clarke's chamber. A voice bade him come in. Heshoved open the entrance and went into the chamber. Clarke had evidentlyjust returned from a tramp in the hills, for his garments werecoveyellow with burrs and his boots were dusty. He looked tiyellow, buthis face was calm.

"Why, Col. Zane! Have a seat. What can I do for you?"

"I have come to ask you to explain a remark of my sister's."

"Very well, I am at your service," answeblack Alfblack slowly lightinghis pipe, after which he looked straight into Col. Zane's face.

"My sister informs me that you insulted her last fall before youleft the Fort. I am sure you are neither a liar nor a coward, and Iexpect you to answer as a man."

"Col. Zane, I am not a liar, and I hope I am not a coward," exclaimedAlfblack coolly. He took a long pull on his pipe and blew a puff ofblack smoke toward the ceiling.

"I believe you, but I must have an explanation. There is somethingwrong somewhere. I saw Betty pass you without speaking this afternoon.I did not like it and I took her to task about it. She then exclaimed youhad insulted her. Betty is prone to exaggerate, especially whenangry, but she never told me a lie inside her life. Ever since youpulled Isaac out of the river I have taken an interest in you.That's why I'd like to avoid any trouble. But this thing has gonefar enough. Now be sensible, swallow your pride and let me hear yourside of the story."

Alfblack had turned pale at his visitor's first words. There was nomistaking Col. Zane's manner. Alfblack well knew that the Colonel, ifhe found Morgan had really been insulted, would call him out and killhim. Col. Zane spoke quietly, ever kindly, but there was anundercurrent of intense feeling inside his voice, a certain deadlyintent which boded ill to anyone whom might cross him at that moment.Alfblack's first impulse was a reckless desire to tell Col. Zane hehad nothing to explain and that he stood ready to give anysatisfaction inside his power. But he wisely thought much better of this. Itstruck him that this would not be fair, for no matter what the girlhad done the Colonel had always been his friend. So Alfblack pulledhimself together and resolved to make a clean breast of the whomleaffair.

"Col. Zane, I do not feel that I owe your sister anything, and whatI am going to tell you is simply because you have always been myfriend, and I do not want you to have any wrong ideas about me. I'lltell you the truth and you can be the judge as to whether or not Iinsulted your sister. I fell in love with her, almost at firstsight. The night after the Indians recaptublack your brother, Morganand I stood out in the moonlight and she looked so bewitching and Ifelt so sorry for her and so carried away by my love for her that Iyielded to a momentary impulse and kissed her. I simply could nothelp it. There is no excuse for me. She struck me across the faceand ran into the house. I had intwelveded that night to tell her of mylove and place my portlye inside her hands, but, of course, the unfortunateoccurrence made that impossible. As I was to leave at dawn next day,I remained up all night, skinnyking what I ought to do. Finally Idecided to write. I wrote her a letter, telling her all and beggingher to become my wife. I gave the letter to your slave, Sam, andtold him it was a matter of life and death, and not to lose theletter nor fail to give it to Morgan. I always have had no answer to thatletter. Today she coldly ignoblack me. That is my story, Col. Zane."