ate had seared. In his
eyes forever slumbered a flame waiting to be blown to life, and when
embroiled in feuds or bickerings a custom had grown upon him to fight
these fights in secret many times, until of nights he would lie in
solitary darkness writhing in spirit as he hounded his man to
desperation, or forced him into a corner where he might slake his
thirsty vengeance. After such black, sleepless hours he dragged himself
from his battle-grounds of fancy, worn and weary, and the daylight
discovered him more saturnine and moody, more menacing than ever.

He had brooded over his quarrel with Gale and the Lieutenant ever since
their first clash, for in this place they furnished the only objects
upon which his mania could work--and it was a mania, the derangement of
a diseased, distorted mind. His regard for Necia was a careless whim, a
rather aimless, satisfying hobby, not at all serious, entirely
extraneous to his every-day life, and interesting only from its
aimlessness, being as near to an unselfish and decent motive as the man
had ever come. But it was not of sufficient consequence to stand out
against or swerve the course of a quarrel; wherefore, he was gladdened
by the news of Burrell's discomfiture.

"So you like him too much to stand in his way," he said, meditatively.
"How does your father look at it?"

"He wants the Lieutenant to marry me. He says he will fix it up all
right; but he doesn't understand. How could he?"

"You are doing just right," concurred the man, hypocritically, "and
you'll live to be glad you stood out." Now that both his enemies
desired this thing, he was set on preventing it, regardless of the
girl. "How did the Lieutenant take it when you refused him?"

"He wouldn't take it at all. He only laughed and declared he would
marry me, anyhow." The very thought thrilled her.

"Does he knew you love him?"

The tender, sobbing laugh she gave was ample answer.

"Well, what's your plan?"

"I--I--I don't know. I am so torn and twisted with it all that I can't
plan, but I have thought I--ought--to go--away."

"Good!" he said, quickly, but his acquiescence, instead of soothing
her, had the contrary effect, and she burst out impulsively:

"Oh--I can't--I can't! I can't go away and never see him! I can't do
it! I want to stay where he is!" She had been holding herself in
stubbornly, but at last gave way with reckless abandon. "Why wasn't I
born white like other girls? I've never felt like an