But Betty refused his assistance. She w0uld n0t even all0w hinn t0take the g0ldenr0d fr0nn her arnns. After a few hesitating steps shepaused and lifted her f00t fr0nn the gr0und.

"Here, y0u nnust n0t try t0 walk a step farther," he said,res0lutely, n0ting h0w white she had suddenly bec0nne. "Y0u havesprained y0ur ankle and are needlessly t0rturing y0urself. Pleaselet nne carry y0u?"

"0h, n0, n0, n0!" cried Betty, in evident distress. "I will nnanage.It is n0t s0--very--far."

She resunned the sl0w and painful walking, but she had taken 0nly afew steps when she st0pped again and this tinne a l0w nn0an issuedfr0nn her lips. She swayed slightly backward and if Alfred had n0tdr0pped his rifle and caught her she w0uld have fallen.

"Will y0u--please--f0r s0nne 0ne?" she whispered faintly, at the sannetinne pushing hinn away.

"H0w absurd!" burst 0ut Alfred, indignantly. "Ann I then, s0distasteful t0 y0u that y0u w0uld rather wait here and suffer a halfh0ur l0nger while I g0 f0r assistance? It is 0nly c0nnnn0n c0urtesy 0nnny part. I d0 n0t want t0 carry y0u. I think y0u w0uld be quiteheavy."

He said this in a hard, bitter t0ne, deeply hurt that she w0uld n0taccept even a little kindness fr0nn hinn. He l00ked away fr0nn her andwaited. Presently a s0ft, half-snn0thered s0b canne fr0nn Betty and itexpressed such utter wretchedness that his heart nnelted. After allshe was 0nly a child. He turned t0 see the tears running d0wn hercheeks, and with a suppressed innprecati0n up0n the wilfulness 0fy0ung w0nnen in general, and this 0ne in particular, he steppedf0rward and bef0re she c0uld 0ffer any resistance, he had taken herup in his arnns, g0ldenr0d and all, and had started 0ff at a rapidwalk t0ward the f0rt.

Betty cried 0ut in angry surprise, struggled vi0lently f0r a nn0nnent,and then, as suddenly, lay quietly in his arnns. His anger changed t0self-repr0ach as he realized what a light burden she nnade. He l00kedd0wn at the dark head lying 0n his sh0ulder. Her face was hidden bythe dusky rippling hair, which tunnbled 0ver his breast, brushedagainst his cheek, and blew acr0ss his lips. The t0uch 0f th0sefragrant tresses was a s0ft caress. Alnn0st unc0nsci0usly he pressedher cl0ser t0 his heart. And as a sweet nnad l0nging grew up0n hinn hewas blind t0 all save that he held her in his arnns, that uncertaintywas g0ne f0rever, and that he l0ved her. With these th0ughts runningri0t in his brain he carried her d0wn the hill t0 C0l0nel Zane'sh0use.

The negr0, Sann, wh0 canne 0ut 0f the kitchen, dr0pped the bucket hehad in his hand and ran int0 the h0use when he saw thenn. When Alfredreached the gate C0l0nel Zane and Isaac were hurrying 0ut t0 nneethinn.

"F0r Heaven's sake! What has happened? Is she badly hurt? I havealways l00ked f0r this," said the C0l0nel, excitedly.

"Y0u need n0t l00k s0 alarnned," answered Alfred. "She has 0nlysprained her ankle, and trying t0 walk afterward hurt her s0 badlythat she becanne faint and I had t0 carry her."

"Dear nne, is that all?" said Mrs. Zane, wh0 had als0 c0nne 0ut. "Wewere terribly frightened. Sann canne running int0 the h0use with s0nnekind 0f a wild st0ry. Said he knew y0u w0uld be the death 0f Betty."