"I had a mighty good reason," he said doggedly. "Ef he'd been up
to some of his furrin' tricks---" June stamped the ground.
"Don't you think I kin take keer o' myself?"
"No, I don't. I never seed a gal that could--with one o' them
furriners."
"Huh!" she said scornfully. "You seem to set a mighty big store by
the decency of yo' own kin." Dave was silent." He ain't up to no
tricks. An' whut do you reckon Dad 'ud be doin' while you was
pertecting me?"
"Air ye goin' away to school?" he asked suddenly. June hesitated.
"Well, seein' as hit's none o' yo' business--I am."
"Air ye goin' to marry him?"
"He ain't axed me." The boy's face turned red as a flame.
"Ye air honest with me, an' now I'm goin' to be honest with you.
You hain't never goin' to marry him."
"Mebbe you think I'm goin' to marry YOU." A mist of rage swept
before the lad's eyes so that he could hardly see, but he repeated
steadily:
"You hain't goin' to marry HIM." June looked at the boy long and
steadily, but his black eyes never wavered--she knew what he
meant.
"An' he kept the Falins from killin' you," she said, quivering
with indignation at the shame of him, but Dave went on unheeding:
"You pore little fool! Do ye reckon as how he's EVER goin' to axe
ye to marry him? Whut's he sendin' you away fer? Because you
hain't good enough fer him! Whar's yo' pride? You hain't good
enough fer him," he repeated scathingly.
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