Part 8 (2/2)

”Then I'd best getout a hoe How many rows do you think I could do before tea?”

”That uess”

The girl's face suddenly wreathed itself in soing to help you, but now I shan't I've been down to see ht to have married her She's the sweetest creature--except Ma--I know I think it's a pity she married Nevil Steyne He's a queer fellow I never knohat to make of him He's kind to her, and he's kind to me--which I'm not sure I like--but I somehow don't like his eyes They're blue, and I don't like blue eyes And I don't believe he ever washes Do you?”

Seth replied without pausing in his work He even seemed to put more force into it, for the hoe cut into the earth with a vicious ring But he avoided her direct challenge

”Guess I haven't a heap of regard for no Injuns nor squaws I've no call to But I allow Wanaha's a good woirl's face becalad you say that, Seth I knew you wouldn't say anything else; you're too generous Wanaha is good Do you know she goes to the Mission because she loves it? She helps us teach the little papooses because she believes in the 'God of the white folks,' she says I know you don't like me to see so much of her, but so?”

”Can't say I'd gamble a heap that aways”

”Well, I don't know, but I believe it's a good thing that Wanaha loves me--loves us all She has such an influence over people”

Seth looked up at last The serious tone of the girl was unusual But as he said nothing, and simply went on with his work, Rosebud continued

”Soenerally speaking, you have no cause to like Indians, while perhaps I have You see, I have always known them But you seem to have taken exception only to Little Black Fox and Wanaha as far as I am concerned You let me teach the Mission children, you even teach theet angry withher As for Little Black Fox, he is the chief He's a great warrior, and acknowledged by even the agent and missionary to be the best chief the Rosebuds have ever had

Quite different from his father”

”Guess that's so”

”Then why--irl's eyes danced with mischief--”he is such a rolish He talks--well, he has much more poetry in him than you have”

”Which is mostly a form of craziness,” observed Seth, quite unruffled

”Well, I like craziness”

”Ah!”

Seth's occasional lapses into monosyllables annoyed Rosebud She never understood theer into her eyes, and their color seeray

”Well, whether you like it or not, you needn't be so ill-tempered about it”

Seth looked up in real astonishe, and his dark eyes twinkled as he beheld Rosebud's own evident anger

He shook his head regretfully, and cut out a bunch of weeds with his hoe

”Guess I' that her assertion was correct

”Yes” Rosebud's anger was like all herand as swift to pass Noas approaching its zenith ”And to show you how good Wanaha is, look at this” She unfolded her parcel and threw the paper down, disclosing the perfect moccasins the Indian had et it was my birthday, like--like----”

”Ah, so it is” Seth spoke as though he had just realized the fact of her birthday