He paid me a great compliment." She laughed harshly.

"Why, he asked me to marry him." The man beside her cursed at this, but she continued: "Don't blame him for liking me--I'm the only woman for five hundred miles around--or I was until this crowd came--so how could he help himself?
No, he merely showed me what a fool I've been." "I guess you better tell me all 'bout dis t'ing," said Poleon, gravely.
"You know I'm all tam' ready for help you, Necia.

Wen you was little feller an' got bust your finger you run to me queeck, an' I feex it." "Yes, I know, dear Poleon," she assented, gratefully.

"You've been a brother to me, and I need you now more than I ever needed you before.

I can't go to father; he wouldn't understand, or else he would understand too much, and spoil it all, his temper is so quick." "I'm not w'at you call easy-goin' mese'f," the Canadian said, darkly, and it was plain that he was deeply agitated, which added to the girl's distress; but she began to speak rapidly, incoherently, her impulsiveness giving significance to her words, so that the man had no difficulty in following her drift.