When he disappeared, she
believed Nella-Rose was with him, but she had supported and embellished
her father's story concerning them because it secured her own
self-respect and covered the tracks of the degenerate pair with a shield
that they in no wise deserved, but which put their defenders in a truly
Christian attitude.
Marg was alone in the cabin when Lois Ann entered. She looked up flushed
and eager.
"How-de," she said genially. "Set and have a bite."
"I ain't got no time," the old woman returned pantingly. "Nella-Rose is
down to my place."
The warm, sunny room grew stifling to Marg.
"What a-doing?" she said, half under her breath.
"She's got a--lil' baby."
The colour faded from Marg's face, leaving it pasty and heavy.
"Burke--thar?"
"He ain't been thar all winter. I hid Nella-Rose and her shame but I
dare not any longer. I reckon she's going off."
"Dying?"
"May be; or--" and here Lois Ann tapped her head.
"And he--he went and left her?" groaned Marg--"the devil!"
Lois Ann watched the terrible anger rising in the younger woman and of a
sudden she realized how useless it would be to voice the wild tale
Nella-Rose held to. So she only nodded.
"I'll come with you," Marg decided at once, "and don't you let on to
father or Jed--they'd do some killing this time, sure!"
Together the two made their way to the Hollow and found Nella-Rose in
the quiet room with her baby nestling against her tender breast.
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