United States or Puerto Rico ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I presume you understand that this story would have more weight as evidence if the girl Nesis was produced in court. Can she be brought here?" Once more Colina faltered and steeled herself. Her eyes became misty, but she looked directly at the judge. "My Lord," she said simply, "she is dead." His lordship started back thoroughly discomposed. "Really! Really!" he murmured helplessly.
The riding crop switched the air like the tail of an angry cat. There was a silence. All watched to see what she would do next. Meanwhile the mill was grinding smoothly. The young miller was hidden from Colina by the barricade of grain bags. Finally she looked over the top and saw him attending the machine. "Greer!" she exclaimed in surprise.
There was no answer, but several heads in the crowd turned involuntarily toward a certain teepee. Colina, perceiving the movement, wheeled her horse and loped across the square in that direction. Cora followed, leading the pack-horse. The Indians sidled after. Approaching the teepee she had marked, Colina heard sounds of a muffled struggle inside.
"Anything but that! What do you want me to do?" "Merely to live like other girls," said Gaviller; "to observe the proprieties." "That's why I couldn't get along at school," muttered Colina gloomily. "You might as well send me back." "You're simply headstrong!" said her father severely. "You won't try to be different."
"Do you know the reason for this attack?" demanded Ambrose. Several voices answered "No!" "All the flour was stored in Michel Trudeau's shack. Some wretch set fire to it and destroyed it all. Naturally they thought it was done by John Gaviller's orders. This is their reprisal." "You dared to think we would stoop to such a thing!" cried Colina.
You'd better think twice before you marry into such a family, Ambrose." "I take my chance," he said. "I'm sorry now," Colina went on. "I know he is, too. Poor old fellow! I have you." "You mustn't break with him yet," said Ambrose anxiously. "I know. But how can I go back and humble myself?" "He'll meet you half-way." "If if we could only get in the dugout and go now!" she breathed.
"I'd start at once," she said suggestively, "but my horses are tired." Plaskett was greatly relieved. "I'll furnish you with fresh horses," he said instantly. "Let your horses stay here and rest up. I'll send them in with the first patrol, and you can then return mine." This was what Colina desired. She smiled on the policeman dazzlingly.
"I must know!" she cried passionately. "I'm the head here now. I must know where we all stand." Ambrose told her. To save her feelings he instinctively softened the harsher features. It did not do his own cause any good later. "Oh, the wretch!" breathed Colina between set teeth. "I know him! A sneaking little scoundrel! Just the one to shoot from behind! To think we must let him go!
Words don't signify." Colina hung her head. "You're right," she said in a humbled voice. "I guess I just wanted an excuse to save my pride. I do believe in you with my whole heart. I never really doubted you I was ashamed, afraid, I don't know what. I was a coward. But I suffered for it every night. Do you despise me?" He laughed from a light breast. "Despise you? That's funny! It was natural.
"Possibly," said Plaskett, "but I cannot believe that among so many there is not one who would betray himself." For half an hour they had it out, back and forth, without making any progress. Plaskett used all of a man's arguments to persuade her to return to Enterprise. Colina, seeing that she was getting nowhere, finally feigned to submit.
Word Of The Day