A Cumberland Vendetta by John Fox
page 82 of 85 (96%)
page 82 of 85 (96%)
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slow pallor drove the flush of surprise from her face, and her lips
moved once, but there was not even a whisper from them. Rome raised one hand before his face, as though to ward off something. " Don't look at mc that way, Marthy-my God, don't! I didn't kill him. I sw'ar it! I give him a chance fer his life. I know, I know-Steve says he didn't. Thar was only us two. Hit looks ag'in' me; but I hain't killed one nur t'other. I let 'em both go. Y'u don't believe me? " He went swiftly toward her, his gun outstretched. Hyeh, gal! I heerd ye swore ag' in' me out thar in the gyarden-'lowin' that you was goin' to hunt me down yerself if the soldiers didn't. Hyeh's yer chance! The girl shrank away from him, too startled to take the weapon; and he leaned it against her, and stood away, with his hands behind him. Kill me ef ye think I'm a-lyin' to ye," he said. "Y'u kin git even with me now. But I want to tell ye fust "-the girl had caught the muzzle of the gun convulsively, and was bending over it, her eyes burning, her face inscrutable-hit was a fa'r fight betwixt us, 'n' I whooped him. He got his gun then, 'n' would 'a' killed me ag'in' his oath ef he hadn't been shot fust Hit's so, too, 'bout the crosses. I made 'em; they're right thar on that gun; but whut could I do with mam a-standin' right thar with the gun 'n' Uncle Rufe a-tellin' 'bout my own dad layin' in his blood, 'n' Isom 'n' the boys lookin' on! But I went ag'in' my oath; I gave him his life when I had the right to take it. I could 'a' killed yer dad once, 'n' I had the right to kill him, too, fer killin' mine; but I let him go, 'n' I reckon I done that fer ye, too. 'Pears like I hain't done nothin' sence I seed ye over thar in the mill that day that wasn't done fer ye. Somehow ye put me dead ag'in' |
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