n a child's.

"Mandy," cried Cameron, stopping short in his walk, "you--I--!" That
frank childlike look in her eyes checked his hot words. But there was
no need for words; his eyes spoke for his faltering lips. A look of fear
leaped to her eyes, a flow of red blood to her cheeks; then she stood,
white, trembling and silent.

"I am tired, I think," she said after a moment's silence, "we will go
back."

"Yes, you are tired," said Cameron angrily. "You are tired to death.
Mandy, you need some one to take care of you. I wish you would let me."
They were now walking back toward the town.

"They are all good to me; they are all kind to me." Her voice was quiet
and steady. She had gained control of herself again. "Why, even John the
Chinaman," she added with a laugh, "spoils me. Oh, no harm can come to
me--I have no fear!"

"But," said Cameron, "I--I want to take care of you, Mandy. I want the
right to take care of you, always."

"I know, I know," she said kindly. "You are so good; you were always so
good; but I need no one."

Cameron glanced at the lithe, strong, upright figure striding along
beside him with easy grace; and the truth came to him in swift and
painful revelation.

"You are right," he said as if to himself. "You need no one, and you
don't need me."

"But," she cried eagerly, "it was good of you all the same."

"Good!" he said impatiently. "Good! Nonsense! I tell you, Mandy, I want
you, I want you. Do you understand? I want to marry you."

"Oh, don't say that!" she cried, stopping short, her voice disturbed,
but kindly, gentle and strong. "Don't say that," she repeated, "for, of
course, that is impossible."

"Impossible!" he exclaimed angrily.

"Yes," she said, her voice still quiet and steady, "quite impossible.
But I love you for saying it, oh--," she suddenly caught her breath.
"Oh, I love you for saying it." Then pointing up the road she cried,
"Look! Some one for you, I am sure." A horseman was galloping swiftly
towards them.

"Oh hang it all!" said Cameron. "What the deuce does he want now?"

"We must talk this out again, Mandy," he said.

"No, no!" she cried, "never again. Please don't, ever again; I could not
bear it. But I shall always remember, and--I am so glad." As she spoke,
her hands, with her old motion, went to her heart.

"Oh the deuce take it!" said Cameron as the Sergeant flung his horse
back on his heels at their side. "What does he want?"

"Constable Cameron," said the