"I love you, Bess, you know, and I'm going to take care of you now.

You're all alone.

Poor little girl." He was so near that she almost felt his breath against her cheek.

She faced him desperately, growing white to the lips.

Was there nothing on earth or in heaven to save her?
Mother! Father! Brother! All gone! Ah! Could she but have known that the quarrel which ended her wild young brother's life had been about her, perhaps pride in him would have salved her grief, and choked her horror.
While she watched the green lights play in the evil eyes above her, she gathered all the strength of her young life into one effort, and schooled herself to be calm.