Part 31 (2/2)
”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 ht; but he doesn't understand How could he?”
”You are doing just right,” concurred the lad you stood out” Now that both his eneardless of the girl ”How did the Lieutenant take it when you refused hihed and declared he would ht thrilled her
”Does he knew you love hiave 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 io 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 ith reckless abandon ”Why wasn't I born white like other girls? I've never felt like an Indian I've always dreamed and fancied I was different, and I a in me that it has killed the red, and I'm one of father's people I'm not like the other two; they are brown and silent, and as cold as little toads; but I'm white and full of life, all over They never see the men and women that I see in my dreams They never have my visions of the beautiful snohite mother, with the tender mouth and the sad eyes that always ss, eh?”
”Yes, but I caot that other woman's soul I'm not a half-breed--I'm not me at all I'm Merridy--Merridy! That's who I am”
Her face was turned away frohtful effect her words had upon Stark
”Where did you get--that name?” His voice was pitched in a different key now Then, after a moment, he added, ”Froht, I suppose?”
”Oh no,” she answered ”I've always had it, though they call uess I'ine she is a part of me, that her spirit is hts I see”
”Your father's mother?” he said,to shake hi ”It's heredity, I suppose You have visions of a white woed, and he spoke so roughly that she looked at hiue alarm
”How do you kno do you know she was his mother?”
”He told me so--”
Stark snarled ”He lied!”
”I can show you her wedding-ring--I've alorn it” She fumbled for the chain about her neck, but it eluded her treers ”It has her name in it--'From Dan to Merridy'”
Stark's hand darted forward and tore the thing frolared at the inscription, while his fingers shook so that he could barely distinguish the words His eyes were blazing and his face livid
Necia cried out, but he dropped the orna her from the chair to her feet; then, with one swift, doard clutch, he laid hold of her dress at the left shoulder and ripped it half to her waist A hoarse sound came from his throat, a cry half of ao!” She struggled to free herself, but he held her in a viselike grip, while he peered closely at a blerasp, and, seized with terror, she staggered away fro heavily with both hands upon the table, his face working, his head dran between his shoulders, his thin lips grinning, his whole ht up against the bark walls She turned and htened up and said, in a queer, co voice: