ding in
'black ivory' was another name for slave-trading. His blindness had
nothing to do with driving him to crime, nor had your mother's doings.
He was a rogue before. His blindness only enabled him to play a deeper
game, which was a matter likely to appeal to his nature. However,
nothing can be altered by discussing him. I have bought a ranch
adjoining Mosquito Bend, and secured Joe's assistance as foreman. I
have given out contracts for rebuilding the house; also, I've sent
orders east for furnishings. I am going to buy my stock at the fall
round-up. All I want now is for you to say when you will marry me,
sweetheart."

"But, Jack, you don't seem to understand. I can't marry you. Father
was a--a murderer."

"I don't care what he was, Danny. It doesn't make the least difference
to me. I'm not marrying your father."

Diane was distressed. The lightness of his treatment of the subject
bothered her. But she was in deadly earnest.

"But, Jack, think of the disgrace! Your people! All the folk about
here!"

"Now don't let us be silly, Danny," Tresler said, coming over to the
girl's side and taking possession of her forcibly. In spite of protest
his arm slipped round her waist, and he drew her to him and kissed her
tenderly. "My people are not marrying you. Nor are the folk--who, by
the way, can't, and have no desire to throw stones--doing so either.
Now, you saved my life twice; once through your gentle nursing, once
through your bravery. And I tell you no one has the right to save life
and then proceed to do all in their power to make that life a burden
to the miserable wretch on whom they've lavished such care. That would
be a vile and unwomanly action, and quite foreign to your gentle
heart. Sweetheart," he went on, kissing her again, "you must complete
the good work. I am anything but well yet. In fact I am so weak that
any shock might cause a relapse. In short, there is only one thing, as
far as I can see, to save me from a horrid death--consumption or
colic, or some fell disease--and that's marriage. I know you must be
bored to death by----No," as the girl tried to stop him, "don't
interrupt, you must know all the fearsome truth--a sort of chronic
invalid, but if you don't marry me, well, I'll get Joe to bury me
somewhere at the crossroads. Look at all the money I've spent in
getting our home together. Think of it, Danny; our home! And old Joe
to help us. And----"

"Oh, stop, stop, or you'll make me----"