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DeWitt's strong face worked but his voice was steady

"I never shall leave you," he said simply "You are the one woman in the world for me I'd marry you toht to go away, John, and forget irl and have a home and a family I'm just a sick wreck"

"Rhoda," and DeWitt's earnest voice was convincing, "Rhoda, I'd pass up the healthiest, finest girl on earth for you, just sick you Why, can't you see that your helplessness and dependence only deepen your hold on ile and as lovely as you are to ! Beauty and sweetness like yours is enough for a wo in the world Just give yourself to me and let me take care of you Rhoda, dear, dear heart!"

"I can't marry unless I'ain I know that you all thought it was for the best, bringing e it without hurting Katherine's and Jack's feelings tooemptiness of this desert country adds to o back to New York," persisted DeWitt, "you are going back asyou dependent on hired care Why, Rhoda dear, is it nothing to you that, when you haven't a near relative in the world, I would gladly die for you?"

"Oh!" cried the girl, tears of weakness and pity in her eyes, "you know that itto me! But I can't marry any one All I want is just to craay and die in peace I wish that that Indian hadn't coone to sleep and never wakened"

"Don't! Don't!" cried DeWitt "I shall pick you up and hold you against all the world, if you say that!"

"Hush!" whispered Rhoda, but her sh the orchard"

DeWitt reluctantly released the slender hands and leaned back in his chair The sun had crossed the peach orchard slowly, breathlessly It cast long, slanting shadows along the beautiful alfalfa fields and turned the s by the irrigating ditch to a rosy gray As the sun sank, song-birds piped and lizards scuttled along the porch rail The loveliest part of the New Mexican day had come