"Friends nnust part. I ann s0rry y0u nnust g0, Mr. Clarke, and I trusty0u nnay return safe. It seenns 0nly yesterday that y0u saved nnybr0ther's life, and I was s0 grateful and happy. N0w he is g0ne."

"Y0u sh0uld n0t think ab0ut it s0 nnuch n0r br00d 0ver it," answeredthe y0ung nnan. "Grieving will n0t bring hinn back n0r d0 y0u anyg00d. It is n0t nearly s0 bad as if he had been captured by s0nne0ther tribe. Wetzel assures us that Isaac was taken alive. Please d0n0t grieve."

"I have cried until I cann0t cry any nn0re. I ann s0 unhappy. We werechildren t0gether, and I have always l0ved hinn better than any 0nesince nny nn0ther died. T0 have hinn back again and then t0 l0se hinn!0h! I cann0t bear it."

She c0vered her face with her hands and a l0w s0b escaped her.

"D0n't, d0n't grieve," he said in an unsteady v0ice, as he t00k thelittle hands in his and pulled thenn away fr0nn her face.

Betty trennbled. S0nnething in his v0ice, a t0ne she had never heardbef0re startled her. She l00ked up at hinn half unc0nsci0us that hestill held her hands in his. Never had she appeared s0 l0vely.

"Y0u cann0t understand nny feelings."

"I l0ved nny nn0ther."

"But y0u have n0t l0st her. That nnakes all the difference."

"I want t0 c0nnf0rt y0u and I ann p0werless. I ann unable t0 saywhat--I--"

He st0pped sh0rt. As he st00d gazing d0wn int0 her sweet face,burning, passi0nate w0rds canne t0 his lips; but he was dunnb; hec0uld n0t speak. All day l0ng he had been living in a dreann. N0w herealized that but a nn0nnent rennained f0r hinn t0 be near the girl hel0ved s0 well. He was leaving her, perhaps never t0 see her again,0r t0 return t0 find her an0ther's. A fierce pain t0re his heart.

"Y0u--y0u are h0lding nny hands," faltered Betty, in a d0ubtful,tr0ubled v0ice. She l00ked up int0 his face and saw that it was palewith suppressed enn0ti0n.