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 "If he's manly and upright I'll like him, perhaps; if he treats you right and is worthy of you."

"He's more than manly and upright. He is one man in a thousand, Daddy, and I'd go to the ends of the earth with him and for him."

"Even forsaking me?" he queried.

"Even forsaking you. My love would not be true otherwise—and it is true—as true as life," she said solemnly—so solemnly that Colonel Lauriston was convinced and bowed his head. He remained with his head on his chest for several minutes while Lida stroked his hair tenderly as if to ward off the blow her next words would give.

"You won't like him, Daddy, and I'm sorry—so sorry."

"Why won't I like him? Why are you so sure?" He gripped her hand fiercely, not knowing what to anticipate.

Lida stood facing him. He also arose and towered in front of her, awaiting her answer, his eyes snapping and his nostrils dilating in excitement. In this crisis Lida did not flinch or wince. She looked straight into his eyes, the woman in her coming to the fore. There was tenderness in her eyes and face, yet determination. Colonel Lauriston was over matched in this. He slowly sank back into his chair, awaiting her answer.

"You won't like him," Lida pronounced the words slowly and with hesitation, "because—because he is not of my, not of our blood. He has colored blood in him."

For a moment Colonel Lauriston was stricken dumb with the shock of the news. His tongue seemed paralyzed.