"I was sixteen when he came to America. Then he sent me money to come to him, saying we'd be married on my arrival here. "But when I reached Gila, he said he could not disgrace his _family_ by marrying _me_." These words were followed by violent weeping. Then Esther comforted her as best she could, and tucked her in her own bed. At last Carla fell into a heavy sleep. Again Esther opened Kenneth's letter, read it, and placed it in her Bible. So days came and went,--homely days, days of simple duties, days of ministration to human need. And Esther Bright was happy. One day as she lingered late at the schoolhouse, she was startled to see a young Apache, dressed as a cowboy, standing in the doorway. For an instant, she felt a sickening fear. Then her habit of self-control asserted itself. She motioned him to a seat, but he did not seem to understand. He spied her guitar, tried the strings, shook his head, and muttered words unintelligible to her. The Indian was, apparently, about her own age, tall, muscular, and handsome. His long, glossy, black hair hung about his shoulders. On his head, was a light felt hat, similar to the ones worn by the cow-punchers. His trousers and jacket were of skins and cloth respectively. In a moment he looked up at her, from his seat on the floor, and jabbered something. Apparently, he approved of her. He touched her dress and jabbered something else. [2]"N[=e]-sh[=e]-äd-nl[)e]h´," he said, pointing southward towards the Apache reservation. [2] You be my squaw. She told him, in poor Spanish, that she could not understand; but he apparently understood her, and looked pleased. Again he repeated the same words, using much gesticulation to help convey his meaning. There was a step outside, and Robert Duncan appeared with Bobbie. After greeting the teacher, Robert looked with unbounded astonishment at her unusual visitor. Apparently the Apache was there on a friendly visit. The Scotchman was about to pass on, when the teacher asked him to stay. He entered the room, and said something to the Indian, who answered, [3]"Indä-stzän´ [=u]´-sn-b[=e]-ceng-k[)e]´." [3] The white woman is an angel. Robert seemed to catch his meaning, and answered in Spanish that the people called her the Angel of the Gila. The Apache nodded his head approvingly, and said, [4]"Indä-stzän´ [=u]´-sn-b[=e]-tse´!" [4] The white woman is the daughter of God. He stepped up to the teacher, and took hold of her arm as if to draw her away with him. She shook her head, and pointed to Robert Duncan, who made signs to him that she was his squaw. At last the Indian withdrew, turning, from time to time, to look back at the vision that, apparently, had bewitched him.