He wunk--_hard_.
And then, I tumbled!
Fer a minute, I just laid back, faint shore enough, thinkin' what a
all-fired sucker I was. And whilst I was stretched out that-a-way, Mace
come clost and give me her hand. The parson, he took out a little black
book.
"_Dearly beloved,_" he begun, "_we are gathered t'gether----_"
It was then I sit up. "Parson, stop!" I says. And to Mace, "Little
gal, I ain't a-goin' t' let 'em take no advantage of you. I _wasn't_
hit in the side. It's my arm, and it's only just creased a little."
Mace kinda blinked, not knowin' whether t' be glad 'r not, I reckon.
"And this hull bsuiness," I goes on, "is a trick."
Her haid went up, and her cheeks got plumb white. Then, she begun t'
back--slow. "A trick!" she repeats; "--it's a trick! Aw, how mean!
how _mean!_ I didn't think you was like that!"
"Me, Mace? It wasn't----"
"A trick!" she goes on. "But I'm glad I found it out--_yas_. This
afternoon when I was talkin' to y', I wanted t' stay right here in
Briggs--I wanted t' stay with you. If you'd just said you wisht I
would; if you'd just turned over you' hand, why, I'd 'a' give up the
trip. My heart was achin' t' think I was goin'. But now, _now--_" And
she choked up.
"Macie!" I says. "Aw, don't!" Somehow I was beginnin' t' feel
kinda dizzy and sick.
She faced the parson. "And you was in it, too!--_you!_" she says.
"I'd do anythin' t' keep you from goin' t' Noo York," he answers,
"and from bein' a' actress."
She looked at Billy next. "The hull _town_ was in it!" she went on.
"_Ev'ry_body was ready t' git me fooled; t' make me the josh of the
county!"
"No, _no,_ little gal," I answers, and got to my feet byside the bed.
"Not me, honey!"
She only just turned and opened the door. "I don't wonder the rest
of you ain't got nothin' t' say," she says. "Why, I ain't never
_heerd_ of anythin' so--so low." And haid down, and sobbin', she went
out.
I tried t' foller, but my laigs was sorta wobbley. I got just a step
'r two, and put a' arm on Billy's shoulder.
The boys went out then, too, not sayin' a word, but lookin' some sneaky.
"Bring her back," I called after 'em. "Aw, I've hurt my pore little
gal!" I started t' walk again, leanin' on the doc. "Boys!----"
Next thing, over I flopped into Billy's arms.
* * * * *
When I come to, a little later on, here was Billy settin' byside me, a'
awful sober look on his face.
"Billy," I says to him, "where is she?"
"Cupid--don't take it hard, ole man--she's--she's gone. Boarded the
East-bound not half a' hour ago. But, pardner----"
Gone!