Part 6 (2/2)
”Then Miss Necia was born out in the States?”
Gale shot a startled glance at the soldier before he answered in the affirht on the floor and did not observe hily:
”Is this your first e, Mr Gale?” When the other did not answer, he looked up and quickly added:
”I beg your pardon, sir What led me to ask was Miss Necia--she is so--well--she is such a ree, but he answered, quietly:
”I 'ain't never been married”
”What?”
”When I took Alluna it wasn't the style, and neither one of us has thought much about it since”
”Oh, I see,” exclai that list withamiably, he sauntered out But his mind was in a whirl, and even after he had reached his quarters he found hih Poor little girl! Poor little girl!”
Gale likewise left the store and went into his house, the odd look still strong in his eyes, to find Necia posing in her new regalia for Poleon's benefit At sight of her he fell into a strange and unexpected huhly to take the things off His voice and manner were harsh and at utter variance with any mood he had ever displayed before; nor would he explain his unreasoning fury, but strode out again, leaving her in tears and the French
CHAPTER IV
THE SOLDIER FINDS AN UNTRODDEN VALLEY
During the weeks that followed Meade Burrell saw much of Necia At first he had leaned on the excuse that he wanted to study the curious freak of heredity she presented; but that wore out quickly, and he let himself drift, content with the pleasure of her cohter Her quick wit and keen huhted him, and the mystery of her dark eyes seemed to hold the poetry and beauty of all the red races that lay behind her on the ht of her as he had seen her that irl's dress, and remembered the purity of neck and breast it had displayed, but he attributed that to the sae that had endowed her with other traits alien to her mother's race
He had experienced a profound sense of pity for her upon learning her father's relation to Alluna, but this also largely vanished when he found that the girl was entirely oblivious to its significance He had tried her in arded the ht of an accepted convention; nor did she see in her blood or station to render her inferior to other women She questioned hilad of this, for it placed no constraint between thean superstitions, the delight of being with her grew, and he ceased to reason whither it ht a keener delight She unfolded before the Kentuckian like soh innumerable, unnoticed fa with hiirlish hopes and beliefs and aspirations she had never voiced till now
A month of this went by, and then Runnion returned He ca steamer which panted in for a rest froht against the never-tiring sweep of waters Thewas bold, for he stood fairly upon the shi+p's deck, staring at the growing picture of the town, as he had watched it recede a month before, and his ser When the boat was at rest Runnion sauntered down the gang-plank and up to the Lieutenant, who stood above the landing-place, and who noted that the scar, close up against his hat-band, was scarce healed He accosted the officer with an insolent assurance
”Well, I'ain, you see, and I' an outfit with you?” The young h he felt that the fellow's presence was a menace and would lead to trouble
”Yes, and I'old-sack at the officer ”I reckon I can rustle thirteen dollars a month most anywhere, if I'm left alone”
”What do you want in this place, anyhow?” demanded Burrell, curiously
”None of your da
”Be sure it isn't,” retorted the Lieutenant, ”because it would please et you”
”I'lad we understand each other,” Runnion said, and turned to oversee the unloading of his freight, falling into conversation with the stranger, who had been surveying the toithout leaving the boat