Part 30 (1/2)
He looked at her in airl, what is the trouble?”
She was staring past hi helplessly with the lace of her gown, but she began to show signs of collapse
”I sent hiave him up, when he wanted me--wanted me--Oh, daddy! he wants to marry me--and I sent him away”
Alluna uttered a short, satisfied exclaood It is good He is a stranger”
But the arded her interruption
”He asked you to marry him in--in--in spite of who you are and what I aive up his a, for me--to sacrifice it all; and so, of course, I couldn't let him” She spoke simply, as if her father would surely understand and approve her action, while in her voice was a note of inevitable resignation ”You see, I never understood what ht I've been selfish and thoughtless, I guess I just wanted him, and wanted him to take ht He is so dear tohim down--I can't--I can't!” She went to the open door and stood leaning against the casing, facing the cool outer darkness, her face hidden frole had sapped her whole strength
Alluna crept to the trader and looked up at hi:
”This will end in a little while, John She is young She can go back to the Mission to-et! Do you think she can forget?”
”Any woet OnlyYou know you lie”
”It is to save your life,” she said
”I know; but it's no use” To Necia he said; ”You needn't worry, little daughter” But her ears were deaf ”You needn't give hiave no sign of heeding, he stepped closer, and swung her about till she faced him
”Can't you trust me this one time? You always have before, Necia I say he'll ht”
She raised her hopeless eyes and strove ga, broke away, and turned back to the door ”I knew you couldn't understand I--I--oh, God, I love him so!” With a cry like that of a wounded aniive vent to her anguish unseen; for she had never wept before her father, but always crept away and hid herself until her grief was spent Gale would have started after her, but Alluna dragged him back fiercely
”No, no! It et She is so young Ti
Don't tell her--don't tell any one--and, above all, don't tell that soldier! He would not believe, nor would she Even I have doubted!”
”You?”
”Yes, John And if I don't believe, what is a stranger to say? Noyou would believe the tale--without proof Suppose she doubted--have you ever thought of that? Would you not rather have her die still loving you than live and disbelieve?”
”Yes, yes! Of course, I--I've thought of that, but--Woman, you're worse than a rattlesnake!”
”Even if he knew, he ht not marry her You at least are clean, and that other reat a price to pay for a grief that will die in a year” Alluna was speaking swiftly in her own language, her body tense, her face ablaze, and no ain have called her people stolid
”You think time will cure a love like that?” he said