He saw that she cared not for his cousin, but he forebore to urge his suit, out of compassion for Sansuta’s brother.
His love, therefore, was speechless, and his captive was unconscious of it.
But what of her? She, too, had changed.
By one of those marvellous transformations of which the human heart is capable, Alice Rody not only became reconciled to her residence among the Indians, but even found much that interested her, even to the awakening of pleasant thoughts.
Many of the Seminoles were, as has been stated, well educated, and with education had come the usual chastening influence.
This was especially true of the young chief Wacora, and she had not failed to observe it.
Her first reflection was what he might have been had he been brought up amongst her own race, for, although she had not been told of his mother being a white woman, she did not doubt that he had white blood in his veins.
What might not a man of his intelligence, chivalric courage, and purity of thought have become in a society where civilisation would have developed all these mental qualities?
The question was a natural one when viewing only the advantages which high culture presented; but its obverse was unfavourable, when considering that civilisation is often an approach to barbarism through selfishness and rapacity.
She answered the query herself, and favourably for him. This mental questioning once commenced, did not pause, but went on to farther consideration of the character of the young chief.