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"I do, indeed!" replied Rhoda sincerely

"Well, then, Miss Rhoda, will you marry me?"

Rhoda raised her head in speechless a eyes contracted

"You are not surprised!" he exclaimed a little fiercely, "You must have seen how it has been with me ever since you came And you have been so--so bully toile that she seeht

"But," she said slowly, "you must know that this is i you, Kut-le!"

There was a ht wind swept froain, Kut-le's voice was husky

"Is it because I am an Indian?"

"Yes," answered Rhoda, "partly But I don't love you, anyhow"

"But," eagerly, "if you did lovean Indian make any difference? Isn't my blood pure? Isn't it old?"

Rhoda stood still The pain in Kut-le's voice was piercing through to the shadoorld in which she lived Her voice was troubled

"But I don't love you, so what's the use of considering the rest? If I ever marry any one it will be John DeWitt"

"But couldn't you," insisted the tragically deep voice, "couldn't you ever love me?"

Rhoda answered wearily One could not, it seee any o into thefor our friendship, with just the pleasant oodness to me Surely you cannot love me as I am!"

"I love you for the wonderful possibilities I see in you I love you in spite of your illness I will th to make you well And I will cherish you as white ly and in her voice was that boundless vanity of the white, which is as old as the race

"No! No! Don't speak of this again! You are an Indian but one reery I a you!" Then her tender heart failed her and her voice trembled "But still I am your friend, Kut-le Truly I a that Rhoda was a little frightened Then he spoke slowly

"Yes, you are white and I am red But before all that, you are a woman of exquisite possibilities and I a mate for you You can love me, when you are well, as you could love no other man And I--dear one, I love you passionately! I love you tenderly! I love you enough to give up my race for you I am an Indian, Rhoda, but first of all I am a man Rhoda, will you marry me?"