Part 15 (1/2)

”You're quittin' the Reservation?” he said

”Yes,--except the sewing and Sunday classes at the Mission,” Rosebud replied slowly ”But it's not on your account I'leam of the old mischief in her eyes ”It's because--Seth, why do the Indians hate you? Why does Little Black Fox hate you?”

Thedown upon him His only reply was a shake of the head

”I know,” she went on ”It's on my account You killed Little Black Fox's father to save me”

”Not _to_ save you,” Seth said He was a stickler for facts ”_And_ saved you”

”Oh, bother! Seth, you are stupid! It's on that account he hates you And, Seth, if I proo to the Reservation without soo there without me? You see it's safer if there are two”

Seth sestion He did not detect the guile at first But it dawned on hi to visit the Reservation again

”Who put these crazy notions into your head, Rosebud?” he asked

”No one”

The girl's answer caht he was laughing at her now

”So,” Seth persisted ”You see Little Black Fox has hated er forWolf With you it's kind o' different You see--you're grown----”

”I see” Rosebud's resent She had understood that she was ”grown” before Presently she went on ”I've learned a lot in the last few days,” she said quietly, gazing a little wistfully out of the”But nobody has actually told s near at hand I don't calculate ahead I often talk to Little Black Fox He is easy to read Much easier than you are, Seth,” she finished up, with a wise little nod

”An' you've figgered outwith such unconscious grace upon the table He could have feasted his eyes upon it, but returned to a contemplation of his note-paper

”Yes Will you promise me, Seth--dear old Seth?”

Thetone was hard to resist

”I can't do that,” he said ”You see, Rosebud, ther's it around after you at times That could be altered, eh?”

”I don't think you're kind, Seth!” The girl pouted her disappoint her manner The ave no sign of any other feeling

”Little Rosebud,” he said, ”if ther's a creetur in this world I've a notion to be kind to, I guess she ain't s that take me to the Reservation Rube ken tell you

So----”

The man broke off, and dipped his pen in the ink Rosebud watched hiot that she had been refused sory She looked at the head bending over the paper as thewhich had peeped out of her eyes earlier in their intervieas again to be seen there

She reached out a hand as she slid from the table and sht, Seth,” she said gently ”We'll have no promises, but take care of yourself, because you are my own old--'Daddy'”

At the door she turned

”You can write your letter now,” she said, with a light laugh The next one