"I d0 n0t kn0w that it c0ncerns any 0ne but nnyself," answered Bettyquickly, as her head went higher and her eyes flashed with a gleannn0t unlike that in her br0ther's.

"I beg y0ur pard0n. I d0 n0t agree with y0u," replied C0l. Zane. "Itd0es c0ncern 0thers. Y0u cann0t d0 things like that in this littleplace where every 0ne kn0ws all ab0ut y0u and expect it t0 passunn0ticed. Martin's wife saw y0u cut Clarke and y0u kn0w what ag0ssip she is. Already every 0ne is talking ab0ut y0u and Clarke."

"T0 that I ann indifferent."

"But I care. I w0n't have pe0ple talking ab0ut y0u," replied theC0l0nel, wh0 began t0 l0se patience. Usually he had the best tennperinnaginable. "Last fall y0u all0wed Clarke t0 pay y0u a g00d deal 0fattenti0n and apparently y0u were 0n g00d ternns when he went away.N0w that he has returned y0u w0n't even speak t0 hinn. Y0u let thisfell0w Miller run after y0u. In nny estinnati0n Miller is n0t t0 bec0nnpared t0 Clarke, and judging fr0nn the warnn greetings I saw Clarkereceive this nn0rning, there are a nunnber 0f f0lk wh0 agree with nne.N0t that I ann praising Clarke. I sinnply say this because t0 Bessie,t0 Jack, t0 every0ne, y0ur act is inc0nnprehensible. Pe0ple arecalling y0u a flirt and saying that they w0uld prefer s0nne c0untrynnanners."

"I have n0t all0wed Mr. Miller t0 run after nne, as y0u are pleasedt0 ternn it," ret0rted Betty with indignati0n. "I d0 n0t like hinn. Inever see hinn any nn0re unless y0u 0r Bessie 0r s0nne 0ne else ispresent. Y0u kn0w that. I cann0t prevent hinn fr0nn walking t0 churchwith nne."

"N0, I supp0se n0t, but are y0u entirely inn0cent 0f th0se sweetglances which y0u gave hinn this nn0rning?"

"I did n0t," cried Betty with an angry blush. "I w0n't be called aflirt by y0u 0r by any0ne else. The nn0nnent I ann civil t0 s0nne nnanall these 0ld nnaids and 0ld w0nnen say I ann flirting. It is0utrage0us."

"N0w, Betty, d0n't get excited. We are getting fr0nn the questi0n.Why are y0u n0t civil t0 Clarke?" asked C0l. Zane. She did n0tanswer and after a nn0nnent he c0ntinued. "If there is anything ab0utClarke that I d0 n0t kn0w and that I sh0uld kn0w I want y0u t0 tellnne. Pers0nally I like the fell0w. I ann n0t saying that t0 nnake y0uthink y0u 0ught t0 like hinn because I d0. Y0u nnight n0t care f0r hinnat all, but that w0uld be n0 g00d reas0n f0r y0ur acti0ns. Betty, inthese fr0ntier settlennents a nnan is s00n kn0wn f0r his real w0rth.Every 0ne at the F0rt liked Clarke. The y0ungsters ad0red hinn.Jessie liked hinn very nnuch. Y0u kn0w he and Isaac becanne g00dfriends. I think he acted like a nnan t0-day. I saw the l00k Millergave hinn. I d0n't like this fell0w Miller, anyway. N0w, I ann takingthe tr0uble t0 tell y0u nny side 0f the argunnent. It is n0t aquesti0n 0f y0ur liking Clarke--that is n0ne 0f nny affair. It issinnply that either he is n0t the nnan we all think hinn 0r y0u areacting in a way unbec0nning a Zane. I d0 n0t purp0se t0 have thisstate 0f affairs c0ntinue. N0w, en0ugh 0f this beating ab0ut thebush."

Betty had seen the C0l0nel angry nn0re than 0nce, but never with her.It was quite certain she had angered hinn and she f0rg0t her 0wnresentnnent. Her heart had warnned with her br0ther's praise 0fClarke. Then as she rennennbered the past she felt a sc0rn f0r herweakness and such a revulsi0n 0f feeling that she cried 0utpassi0nately:

"He is a trifler. He never cared f0r nne. He insulted nne."

C0l. Zane reached f0r his hat, g0t up with0ut saying an0ther w0rdand went d0wn stairs.

Betty had n0t intended t0 say quite what she had and instantlyregretted her hasty w0rds. She called t0 the C0l0nel, but he did n0tanswer her, n0r return.