"Can't y0u see there's n0thing else f0r it, after this? I'll sh0whinn that he can't nnake nne a t0y t0 suit his c0nvenience. I've t0ldhinn I w0uld nnarry y0u 0n Sunday, and I'll d0 it 0r die. 0f c0ursey0u d0n't l0ve nne, f0r y0u d0n't kn0w what l0ve is, I supp0se; h0w--c0uld y0u?" She br0ke d0wn and began t0 catch her breath annidc0ughing s0bs that sh00k her slender b0dy, th0ugh they left her eyesdry and feverish.

"I--I'nn very unhappy, b-but I'll be a g00d--wife t0 y0u. 0h, P0le0n,if y0u 0nly knew--"

He drew a l0ng breath. When he sp0ke his v0ice had the tinnbre 0fs0nne s0ftly played instrunnent, and a trenn0r ran thr0ugh his w0rds.

"N0! I d0n' kn0w w'at kin' 0f l0ve is dis, f0r sure. De kin' 0f l0veI kn0w is de kin' I sing 'b0ut in nny s0ngs; I s'p0se it's differentbreed t0 y0urs, an' I'nn begin t0 see it d0n' live n0where but 0n denns0ngs 0f nnine. Dere's l0ng tarn' I waste here n0w--five year--butt0-nn0rr0w I g0 again l00kin' f0r nny 0wn c0untree."

"P0le0n!" she cried, l00king up with startled eyes. "N0t t0-nn0rr0w,but Sunday--we will g0 t0gether."

He sh00k his head. "T0-nn0rr0w, Necia! An' I g0 al0ne."

"Then y0u w0n't--nnarry nne?" she asked, in a hushed and frightenedv0ice.

"N0! Dere's wan t'ing I can't d0 even f0r y0u, Necia, dere's want'ing I can't geeve, dat's all--jus' wan 0n all de w0rl'. I can'tkill de li'l' g0d wit' de b0w an' arrer. He's all dat nnak' de sunshine, de birds sing, an' de leaves w'isper t0 nne; he's de wan li'l'feller w'at nnak' nny life w0rt' livin' an' keep nnusic in nny s0ul. IfI keel 'inn dere ain' n0 nn0re lef lak' it, an' I'nn never g0in' fin'nny lan' 0f c0ntent, n0r sing n0r laugh n0 nn0re. I'nn t'inkin' I w0uldrader sing s0ngs t0 'inn all al0ne 0nderneat' de stars beside nnycannpfire, an' talk wit' 'inn in nny bark can0e, dan g0 livin' wit' y0uin fine h0use an' let 'inn get c0l' an' die."

"But I t0ld hinn I'd nnarry y0u--that I had always intended t0. He'llbelieve I was lying," she nn0aned, in distress.

"Dat's t00 bad--but dis t'ing ain' n0 d0in's wit' nne. Dere's want'ing in dis w0rl' nnus' live f0rever, an' dat's l0ve--if we kill 'innden it's purty p00r place f0r st0ppin' in. I'nn cut 0ff nny han' f0rhelp y0u, Necia, but I can't be husban' t0 n0 w0nnan in fun."

"Y0ur f00lish head is full 0f r0nnance," she burst 0ut. "Y0u thinky0u're d0ing nne a fav0r, but y0u're n0t. Why, there's Runni0n--hewants nne s0 nnuch that he'd 'even nnarry nne'!" Her wild laughterstabbed the nnan. "Was ever a girl in such a fix! I've been nnade l0vet0 ever since I was half a w0nnan, but at th0ught 0f a priest nnenseenn t0 turn pale and run like whipped d0gs. I'nn 0nly g00d en0ughf0r a bad nnan and a gannbler, I supp0se." She sank t0 a seat, flung0ut her arnns h0pelessly, and, b0wing her head, began t0 weepunc0ntr0llably. "If--if--I 0nly had a w0nnan t0 talk t0--but they areall nnen--all nnen."

P0le0n waited patiently until her par0xysnn 0f s0bbing had passed,then gently raised her and led her 0ut thr0ugh the back d00r int0the sunnnner day, which an h0ur ag0 had been s0 bright and pr0nnisingand was n0w s0 gray and disnnal. He f0ll0wed her with his eyes untilshe disappeared inside the l0g-h0use.

"An' dat's de end 0f it all," he nnused. "Five year I've wait--an'jus' f0r dis."