But
what had they done with Nella-Rose? She had, according to White,
disappeared the night that Jed had been tied in the cave. Well, Jed must
confess and pay!--pay to the uttermost. But between him and Jed Marg now
stood!
"You!" cried Marg. "You! What yo' mean coming brazen to us-all?"
"Get out of my way!" commanded Burke, "Where's Jed?"
"What's that to you?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Let me by."
But Marg held her ground and Lawson waited. The look in his eyes awed
Marg, but his presence enraged her.
"What you-all done with Nella-Rose?" Lawson asked.
"You better find out! You've left it long enough."
"Whar is she, I say? And I tell you now, Marg--every one as has wronged
that lil' girl will answer to me. Whar is she?"
"She--she and her young-un are up to Lois Ann's. They've been hid all
winter. No one but me knows; you've time to make good--before--before
father and Jed get yo'."
Lawson took this like a blow between the eyes. He could not speak--for a
moment he could not think; then a lurid fire of conviction burned into
his very soul.
"So--that's it!" he muttered, coming so close to Marg that she shrank
back afraid. "So that's it! Yo'-all have damned and all but killed the
po' lil' girl--then flung her to--to the devil! You've taken the
leavings--you! 'cause yo' couldn't get anything else. Yo' and Jed" (here
Lawson laughed a fearless, terrifying laugh), "yo' and Jed is honourably
married, you two, and she--lil' Nella-Rose--left to--" Emotion choked
Lawson; then he plunged on: "He--he wronged her--the brute, and you took
him to--to save him and yourself you--! And she?--why, she's the only
holy thing in the hills; you couldn't damn her--you two!"
"For the love o' Gawd!" begged Marg, "keep yo' tongue still and off us!
We ain't done her any wrong; every one, even Jed, thinks she is with
you.
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