The Red Debt

next. But at the end of the third week he appeared to take Belle-Ann below

nwrapped a huge bundle, and displayed an entire new outfit for the girl-two blu

he walked out and down toward the spring, where she thought Lem was lingering. But Lem was not

er alone. He knew

aw her trim, round figure approach,

face, smiled back at him, and stood dem

Belle-Ann," he observed.

s 'll be goin', Lem," she answered, with an

een steeling herself for days for the ordeal of this parting. Down in the depth of her heart she held fast

presently. He aroused himself and stood up before her, h

'. But thar air one thing I air wantin' yo' t' promise me, Belle-Ann

as the crucial moment she had foreseen, and now wa

joined almost inaudibly, with violet eyes

tinctively that she had discerned what he held in his mind. The fact that she had divin

hated Ghost-man. Lem had only a general and superficial conception of the intrinsic intensity of this thing that had taken hold of the girl. Little did he know of the doleful hours she had brooded away over this theme of vengeance. Long, brain-dulling hours during her waking time. Haunting, troublous hours during her dream-time. And always in the imaginings of her girl-heart she nurtured and built up an ideal, who would kill the revenuer. A hero who would hasten to her with the affiliating tribute, and lay the crimson laurels of the deed at her feet. She well knew that Lem thirsted for the life of this uncanny man, who had come and deprived him of his beloved mother and father. She knew that day and night as h

ul, when she had hovered over the still form of Maw Lutts in the yard. Maw Lutts, who from Belle-Ann's baby-days to the woman's last minute in the yard, had never uttered to

round death-sore multiplied and floated in one gesticulating mirage before her eyes. Often they consolidated into one compact darkish background, against which would develop the satanic, puffed visage of the reve

ning of the past hour. Three weeks only had elapsed since she had witnessed the last withering stroke of this evil creature bent upon their destruction. Across her e

as she and little Buddy, clinging to each other, had crept through the ghastly shadow

rch that night. So it was that Belle-Ann had long since, secretly, reared a citadel within her, and

e to do, that his burden did not parallel her own. But she would not contaminate the boy's love with the presence of this red-rare oath sticking like a projectile in her being. This rubric, monastic avowal of veng

nned by a blow. He was confronted with a new and unexpected phase of her nature. As his own gaze met her eyes, he discerned the indelible lettering of some palpable, deep purpose. What strange alien agency had laid hold of her? Was this the call of her blue-grass blood asserting itself in this, the hour of parting? The celerity of the transition, from his romping, hi

kin sho' promise me t

ut hit air yet, Lem,"

kily, "I air pizen sho' yo'-all

g down on her small face, and elevated her pretty brows negatively. B

fore yo'-all goes away. I want yo' t' promise, Belle-Ann," he went on earnestly, recovering the hand he had

and away from him. With eyes averted, her bosom stir

winging it in her perturbation. With

astways not now," she answered

k, crestfal

etween them. Never before ha

er matchless viol

ain't a spitin' you, cose yo' air a good boy an'-an' I like

ddenly tossed his long hair back with a jerk of hi

ick bin a pesterin' yo' an' yo're afeerd t' tell me? Belle-Ann, little gal, do yo'-all love Orlick? Air hit em

im. Her heart hurt and she turned away again. An

he spruce-log, dangling her h

fervently, "cum, deah lit

she shook he

from her a pallor swept his features. Utterly crushed

nto his being. Could it be that this was the first bud of a fruit that had alread

him. Did she already regard herself exalted a

lent, beautiful, mysterious-another gir

ell back a few paces, now white to the lips with feelings tha

et loves yo'-all like me, Belle-Ann! Hain't I honest? Hain't I knowed yo' all yore little life, Belle-Ann? Whut would maw say, seein' yo'-all driftin' aw

g hands ruthlessly ripped his flannel shirt o

gallant courage she fought back the tears into her aching heart-fought them back desperately, just as he had fought off the she-

regarded him as he

him on vaguely, struggling to control herself. The tide of em

se up 'long side o' yo', deah little gal; an' he loves yo' now, same as alers. Why, I'd stan', ef yo'd say th' w

life-frum a little bitty gal up t' now. An' my heart's jest heah wha

he paused, his pleadi

t meet his eyes directly. She dar

ose up from the log and, in her turn, though more

her fingers relaxed and she placed her two han

xed me t' marry yo' when I cum back. I cyant promise. Yo' a

n her turbulent bosom. Alarmed, he sprang up to

ws. Now, I got t' tell yo' all, Lem. I took a vow that no livin' bein' 's gain' t' kiss my face lessen he kills th