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changing of coats； trimming of mustaches； and eloquent sighing doesn't seem to
have affected the young lady。 I've a notion to send you both to Maumee town；
one hundred miles away。 This young lady is charming； I admit； but if she is to
keep on seriously hindering the work of the Moravian Mission I must object。 As
for that matter； I might try conclusions myself。 I'm as young as either of
you； and； I flatter myself； much handsomer。 You'll have a dangerous rival
presently。 Settle it！ You can't both have her； settle it！〃
This outburst from their usually kind leader placed the earnest but awkward
gentlemen in a terrible plight。
On the afternoon following the crisis Heckewelder took Mr。 Wells to one of the
Indian shops； and Jim and Nell went canoeing。 Young and Edwards； after
conferring for one long； trying hour； determined on settling the question。
Young was a pale； slight man； very homely except when he smiled。 His smile not
only broke up the plainness of his face； but seemed to chase away a serious
shadow； allowing his kindly； gentle spirit to shine through。 He was nervous；
and had a timid manner。 Edwards was his opposite； being a man of robust frame；
with a heavy face； and a manner that would have suggested self…confidence in
another man。
They were true and tried friends。
〃Dave； I couldn't ask her；〃 said Young； trembling at the very thought。
〃Besides； there's no hope for me。 I know it。 That's why I'm afraid； why I
don't want to ask her。 What'd such a glorious creature see in a poor； puny
little thing like me？〃
〃George； you're not over…handsome；〃 admitted Dave； shaking his head。 〃But you
can never tell about women。 Sometimes they like even little； insignificant
fellows。 Don't be too scared about asking her。 Besides； it will make it easier
for me。 You might tell her about meyou know； sort of feel her out； so
I'd…〃
Dave's voice failed him here； but he had said enough； and that was most
discouraging to poor George。 Dave was so busy screwing up his courage that he
forgot all about his friend。
〃No； I couldn't；〃 gasped George； falling into a chair。 He was ghastly pale。 〃I
couldn't ask her to accept me； let alone do another man's wooing。 She thinks
more of you。 She'll accept you。〃
〃You really think so？〃 whispered Dave； nervously。
〃I know she will。 You're such a fine； big figure of a man。 She'll take you；
and I'll be glad。 This fever and fretting has about finished me。 When she's
yours I'll not be so bad。 I'll be happy in your happiness。 But； Dave； you'll
let me see her occasionally； won't you？ Go！ Hurryget it over！〃
〃Yes； we must have it over；〃 replied Dave； getting up with a brave； effort。
Truly； if he carried that determined front to his lady…love he would look like
a masterful lover。 But when he got to the door he did not at all resemble a
conqueror。
〃You're sure shecares for me？〃 asked Dave； for the hundredth time。 This
time； as always； his friend was faithful and convincing。
〃I know she does。 Gohurry。 I tell you I can't stand this any longer；〃 cried
George； pushing Dave out of the door。
〃You won't gofirst？〃 whispered Dave； clinging to the door。
〃I won't go at all。 I couldn't ask herI don't want hergo！ Get out！〃
Dave started reluctantly toward the adjoining cabin； from the open window of
which came the song of the young woman who was responsible for all this
trouble。 George flung himself on his bed。 What a relief to feel it was all
over！ He lay there with eves shut for hours； as it seemed。 After a time Dave
came in。 George leaped to his feet and saw his friend stumbling over a chair。
Somehow； Dave did not look as usual。 He seemed changed； or shrunken； and his
face wore a discomfited； miserable expression。
〃Well？〃 cried George； sharply。 Even to his highly excited imagination this did
not seem the proper condition for a victorious lover。
〃She refusedrefused me；〃 faltered Dave。 〃She was very sweet and kind； said
something about being my sisterI don't remember just whatbut she wouldn't
have me。〃
〃What did you say to her？〃 whispered George； a paralyzing hope almost
rendering him speechless。
〃II told her everything I could think of；〃 replied Dave； despondently； 〃even
what you said。〃
〃What I said？ Dave； what did you tell her I said？〃
〃Why； you knowabout she cared for methat you were sure of it； and that you
didn't want her…〃
〃Jackass！〃 roared George； rising out of his meekness like a lion roused from
slumber。
〃Didn't yousay so？〃 inquired Dave； weakly。
〃No！ No！ No！ Idiot！〃
As one possessed； George rushed out of the cabin； and a moment later stood
disheveled and frantic before Kate。
〃Did that fool say I didn't love you？〃 he demanded。
Kate looked up； startled； but as an understanding of George's wild aspect and
wilder words dawned upon her； she resumed her usual calm demeanor。 Looking
again to see if this passionate young man was indeed George； she turned her
face as she said：
〃If you mean Mr。 Edwards； yes； I believe he did say as much。 Indeed； from his
manner； he seemed to have monopolized all the love near the Village of Peace。〃
〃But it's not true。 I do love you。 I love you to distraction。 I have loved you
ever since I first saw you。 I told Dave that。 Heckewelder knows it； even the
Indians know it；〃 cried George； protesting vehemently against the disparaging
allusion to his affections。 He did not realize he was making a most
impassioned declaration of love。 When he was quite out of breath he sat down
and wiped his moist brow。
A pink bloom tinged Kate's cheeks； and her eyes glowed with a happy light； but
George never saw these womanly evidences of pleasure。
〃Of course I know you don't care for me…〃
〃Did Mr。 Edwards tell you so？〃 asked Kate； glancing up quickly。
〃Why； yes； he has often said he thought that。 Indeed； he always seemed to
regard himself as the fortunate object of your affections。 I always believed
he was。〃
〃But it wasn't true。〃
〃What？〃
〃It's not true。〃
〃What's not true？〃
〃Ohabout mynot caring。〃
〃Kate！〃 cried George； quite overcome with rapture。 He fell over two chairs
getting to her； but he succeeded； and fell on his knees to kiss her hand。
〃Foolish boy！ It has been you all the time；〃 whispered Kate； with her quiet
smile。
〃Look here； Downs； come to the door。 See there；〃 said Heckewelder to Jim。
Somewhat surprised at Heckewelder's grave tone； Jim got up from the
supper…table and looked out of the door。 He saw two tall Indians pacing to and
fro under the maples。 It was still early twilight and light enough to see
clearly。 One Indian was almost naked； the lithe； graceful symmetry of his dark
figure standing out in sharp contrast to the gaunt； gaudily…costumed form of
the other。
〃Silvertip！ Girty！〃 exclaimed Jim； in a low voice。
〃Girty I knew； of course； but I was not sure the other was the Shawnee who
captured you and