Never, but once, had Hale's
name been mentioned in the cabin--never, but once, had her father
referred to the testimony that she had given against Rufe
Tolliver, for the old man put upon Hale the fact that the sheriff
had sneaked into his house when he was away and had taken June to
Court, and that was the crowning touch of bitterness in his
growing hatred for the captain of the guard of whom he had once
been so fond.
"Course you had to tell the truth, baby, when they got you there,"
he said kindly; "but kidnappin' you that-a-way--" He shook his
great bushy head from side to side and dropped it into his hands.
"I reckon that damn Hale was the man who found out that you heard
Rufe say that. I'd like to know how--I'd like to git my hands on
the feller as told him."
June opened her lips in simple justice to clear Hale of that
charge, but she saw such a terrified appeal in her step-mother's
face that she kept her peace, let Hale suffer for that, too, and
walked out into her garden. Never once had her piano been opened,
her books had lain unread, and from her lips, during those days,
came no song.
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