“What will be the fate of the girl if she stays here in the Indian village?”
“Well, I suppose Girty will make a sort of left-handed wife out of her. I believe that’s his idea.”
“But is there not a chance that she may escape or be rescued by her friends?” demanded Kate.
“Of course there’s the chance. It ain’t likely, but still it might happen so.”
“And if she should escape I could never hope to win the love of Harvey Winthrop.”
“Well, I s’pose that’s Gospel truth.”
“You may be sure that it is the truth!” exclaimed Kate, earnestly. “But if she never returns to the settlement of course he will never see her again. Then he will forget her. I have a double claim to his gratitude if not to his love. Twice have I saved his life.”
“But gratitude ain’t love.”
“No, father; but the space that separates the two sentiments is but a slight one. Once this girl is out of the way he will learn to love me; I am sure of it.”
“But you say you are going to give the girl back to him?”