lived in England. No, I'm afraid if I were to marry Seth it wouldn't be
his doing."

"This Seth said you were a savage--and he's right."

With this parting shot Mrs. Rickards turned over, and, a moment later, was
comfortably asleep, as her heavy breathing indicated. Rosebud remained a
long time at the dressing-table, but her hair didn't trouble her. Her head
was bowed on her arms, and she was quietly weeping. Nor could she have
explained her tears. They were the result of a blending of both joy and
sorrow. Joy at returning to the farm and at finding Seth on the highroad
to recovery; and sorrow--who shall attempt to probe the depths of this
maiden's heart?

The day following Rosebud's return was a momentous one. True to her
impulsive character the girl, unknown to anybody, saddled her own mare and
rode off on a visit to Wanaha. Seth was away from the farm, or he would
probably have stopped her. Rube knew nothing of her going, and Ma had her
time too much occupied with Mrs. Rickards and her maid to attend to
anything but her household duties. So Rosebud was left to her own devices,
which, as might have been expected, led her to do the one thing least
desirable.

Wanaha was overjoyed at the girl's return. The good Indian woman had
experienced a very real sense of loss, when, without even a farewell,
Rosebud suddenly departed from their midst. Added to this Wanaha had had
a pretty bad time with her husband after the affair in the river woods.
Abnormally shrewd where all others were concerned, she was utterly blind
in her husband's favor. His temper suddenly soured with Rosebud's going,
and the loyal wife suffered in consequence. Yet she failed to appreciate
the significance of the change.

There was no suspicion in her mind of the manner in which she had foiled
his plans, or even of the nature of them. The attempt to kidnap the white
girl she put down to the enterprise of her brother's fierce, lawless
nature, and as having nothing whatever to do with her husband. In fact she
still believed it was of that very danger which Nevil had wanted to warn
Rosebud.

Now, when the girl suddenly burst in upon her, Wanaha was overjoyed, for
she thought she had surely left the prairie world forever. They spent the
best part of the morning together. Then Nevil came in for his dinner. When
he beheld the girl, fair and deliciously fresh in her old prairie habit,
sitting on the bed in the hut, a wave of devilish joy swept over him. H