that the man had no
difficulty in following her drift. With quick insight he caught her
meaning, and punctuated her broken sentences with a series of grave
nods, assuring her that he knew and understood. He had always known, he
had always understood, it seemed.

"Don't think I'm unwomanly, Poleon, for I'm not. I may be foolish and
faithful and too trusting, but I'm not--unmaidenly. You see, I've never
been like other girls--and he was so fine, so different, he made me
love him--it's part of a soldier's training, I suppose. It was so sweet
to be near him, and to hear him tell of himself and all the world he
knows--I just let myself drift. I'm afraid--I'm afraid I listened too
well, and my ears heard more than he said--my head is so full of books,
you know."

"He should have know' dat, too," said Poleon.

"Yes," she flared up. "He knew I was only an Indian girl."

The only color in Doret's face lay now in his cheeks, where the sun had
put it; but he smiled at her--his warm, engaging smile--and laid his
great brown hand upon her shoulder softly.

"I've look' in hees eye an' I'm always t'ink he's good man. I don'
never t'ink he'll mak' fun of poor little gal."

"But he has, Poleon; that's just what he has done." She came near to
breaking down, and finished, pathetically, "They're telling the story
on the street, so Runnion says."

"Dat's easy t'ing for feex," he said. "Runnion, she don' spread no more
story lak' dat."

"I don't care what they say. I want the truth. I want to know what he
means, what his intentions are. He swears he loves me, and yet he has
never asked me to marry him. He has gone too far; he has made a fool of
me to amuse himself, and--and I couldn't see it until to-day. He's
laughing at me, Poleon, he's laughing at me now! Oh, I can't bear it!"

The Frenchman took up his wide hat from the counter and placed it
carefully upon his head, but she stopped him as he moved towards the
door, for she read the meaning of the glare in his eyes.

"Wait till you understand--wait, I say! He hasn't done anything yet."

"Dat's de trouble. I'm goin' mak' 'im do somet'ing."

"No, no! It isn't that; it's these doubts that are killing me--I'm not
sure--"

"I hear plaintee," he said. "Dere's no tam' for monkey roun'."

"I tell you he may be honest," she declared. "He may mean to marry me,
but I've got to know. That's why I came to you; that's what you must
find out for me."

"I'm good trader, Necia," said t