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DeWitt crossed the orchard, quickening his pace when he saw Rhoda He was a tall fellow, blond and well built, though not so tall and lithe as Cartwell His dark blue eyes were disconcertingly clear and direct

"Well, Rhoda dear!" he exclaimed as he hurried up the steps "If you didn't scare this faht," Rhoda answered languidly "It was good of you all to bother so aboutall day?"

"Over at the ditch with Jack and Cartwell Say, Rhoda, the young felloho rescued you is an Indian!"

DeWitt dropped into a big chair by the ha ti! But there was no responsive light in the deep gray eyes

"Katherine told me," she replied Then, after a pause, as if she felt it her duty to make conversation, "Did you like hi the matter

"I've a lot of race prejudice in ers or Chinaet over to the white h on their own side However, this Cartwell chap seeht And he rescued you frorateful for that as I ought to be," murmured Rhoda, half to herself "It would have been an easy solution"

Her words stung DeWitt He started forward and seized the small thin hands in both his own

"Rhoda, don't!" he pleaded huskily "Don't give up! Don't lose hope! If I could only give you soth! Don't talk so! It just about breaks my heart to hear you"

For a tier, pleading face so close to her own Even in her illness, Rhoda was very lovely The burnished yellow hair softened the thinness of the face that was like delicately chiseledray eyes lost none of their beauty through her weakness

"John," she said at last, "on't you look the truth in the face? I never shall get well I shall die here instead of in New York, that's all Why did you follow me down here? It only tortures you And, truly it's not so bad for me You all have lost your realness to , much"