The Leatherwood God

og doorstep outside and the other pl

eld at arms' length before her. "What

rink," he sai

the well,"

in, but he did not venture to lift his other foot t

sband. What i

and you're as handsome as ever, Nancy. I suppose that's his," he said, turning his eye towards the

ne," she

on't let your young ones favor your husbands much, Nancy; and yet you was not

himself wh

ain't been able to give him all the attention I may later. But you needn't be troubled about him. I won't do anything to make

id, "and I'll brin

iting for Nancy to follow him with the dipper fashioned from a long-necked gourd, as the drinking cup oftenest was in the wes

didn't think to offer me. Well, I thank you for the water, anyway, you woman of Samaria." He held the gourd toward her but she did not take it, and he

n tacit question what to do with it since she did

. He laughed. "Is that the way you feel about me, Nancy? Pity for the gourd, but

believe it,

ve or to unbelieve," he a

ings, and you're not afraid because it ha'n't killed you

ases-and He has to do it every now and then according to what the Book tells-why ain't the man equal with God? You believe, maybe, that you would be struck dead if you said the things that I do; but why ain't I struck dead? Why, either because

He stood a moment, smiling. "There you see! I'm safe and sound as ever. May be you think it would be worse if you said I was God. Lots have said it. Last night all Leatherwood was hanging to my arms and legs down there in the Temple worshiping me. If I

sure. Some day there's going to be a reckoning with you, and you're going to wake up from this dream of yours." She seemed to gather force as she faced him. "I could feel to be glad it was

e could swing the world! Nancy, why don't you come to me?" He flung his arms wide and bent his stalwart shape toward her. "Leatherwood's nothing, I tell you. Why, you ought to see the towns Over-the-Mountains; you ought to see Philadelphia, where I came from the last thing. Everywhere the people are waiting for a sign, just as they've always been, and we would come with a sign-plenty of signs:

s face, set in its flowing b

hat you always was, a lazy, good-for-nothing-Oh, I don't say you wasn't handsome; that was what done it for me when I made yo

ou're coming to me

you used to, if you willed it, but I've outlived you, you and your will. Now I want

him come. I've converted worse sinners than Laban." He had remained, bent forward with his gaze st

I thought there wa

l, as well as All-mig

s no use! You couldn't do a right thing if you wan

It don't matter whether it's letting the serpent tempt that fool woman in Eden, or Joseph's brethren selling him into Egypt, or Samuel hewing Agag in pieces, or the Israelites smiting the heathen, or David setting Uriah in the forefront of the battle, or Solomon having hundreds of wi

to the measure of her need of his forbearance. "Oh, why

o him?" Dylks demanded,

you let J

elf so. "Why can't she let me alone? That girl bothers me worse than all t

ou came. Why can't you let

malign intelligence shone in his eyes. "Well,

go back to Hughey! If you

, and at her recoil he laughed and

you and me. But if I only knowed what you was up to-what you would really take to l

the faith of the elect, helps along; and you would have that from the beginning; they would take you on my word, you wouldn't have to say or do anything. But that's not what I'm expecting now," he hurried to add, smiling at the cloud of refusal in her face. "I'm not fooling; all I ask now is to have yo

asked you anything. You couldn't do good, if you tried." She pulled her sunbonnet

d gave his equine snort. He began to sin

a gulf of

hed sinn

ng twigs toward him intermittently, as if they paused in question, and then resumed their course toward him, his voice fell, broken

anded of the slight, wor

ings," the

ully returned, and as if he had borne the man down before him, he strode

ace with Nancy at the door of the shed behind the cabin. She was looking, too, in the direction

ght ketch sight of the baby-It's pretty hard to do without you both! And I was just passin'-Well, they've knocked of

aban. Come in a

ly. Then he faltered, "Do

ed. Then at his stare, she demanded, "Di

es

d he loo

like. They're half crazy about him at the Corne

ink he look

hould say. He's hands

Joseph

s'picion

ting me to go away with

and it was by a succession of effor

sound of her lament a little voice of fear and hope answered from the cabin. The father-h

le boy, and he took it. "I know it's just for the baby; and I feel

r forget you; I reckon she won't if I have any say in it. Me and Joey talks about you every night when we're gettin' her to sleep." She gurgled out a half-sob, half-laugh, as the little one pulled and pushed at his face, which he twist

th the walk from the Corners,

ou just

keep her,"

ch she made more than she had meant, and they had a joyous

in his arms. When he lifted himself from laying her in the rough cradle which he had him

with the same fierce courage she had shown in

God. You was right about that; and I won't ever come back again till-as long as-" He glanced wistful

m to the door.

he said, "I reckon it wouldn't be right," and he t