Come over heah," he replied, and drew her away from the camp fire, out in the shadow of gloom.

"Poor kid! I shore feel bad aboot it." He put a long arm around her waist and drew her against him.

Ellen felt it, yet did not offer any resistance.

All her faculties seemed absorbed in a morbid and sad anticipation.
"Ellen, y'u shore know I always loved y'u--now don't y 'u ?" he asked, with suppressed breath.
"No, Colter.

It's news to me--an' not what I want to heah." "Wal, y'u may as well heah it right now," he said.