"Yes, in St. Louis; dad took me there with him two years ago, and I saw
her grave."
"Dad? Do you mean old Gillis?"
She nodded, beginning dimly to wonder why he should speak so fiercely
and stare at her in that odd way. He seemed to choke twice before he
could ask the next question.
"Did he--old Gillis, I mean--claim to be your father, or her husband?"
"No, I don't reckon he ever did, but he gave me that picture, and told
me she was my mother. I always lived with him, and called him dad. I
reckon he liked it, and he was mighty good to me. We were at Randolph
a long time, and since then he's been post-trader at Bethune. That's
all I know about it, for dad never talked very much, and he used to get
mad when I asked him questions."
Hampton dropped the locket from his grasp, and arose to his feet. For
several minutes he stood with his back turned toward her, apparently
gazing down the valley, his jaw set, his dimmed eyes seeing nothing.
Slowly the color came creeping back into his face, and his hands
unclinched. Then he wheeled about, and looked down upon her,
completely restored to his old nature.
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