retort coolly. But his light grey eyes narrowed under
the black brows.

"Bonbright seemed mightily upsot," he commented. "Went off on the train
an' left his mule a-standin'."

_Went off on the train!_ Judith's heart leaped, then stood still.

"Ye needn't werry about it--I had Scomp put it up, 'long o' my other 'n.
He'll send 'em both up a Wednesday. I reckon it ain't to be wondered at
Bonbright was flustered. Who do you 'low he went with on the railroad
train? Jude, air you so easy fooled as to think it was a new notion for
him to go to Garyville? Didn't he name it to you that it was a better
place than Double Springs?"

Leaning close and watching her face, he saw in it confirmation.

"Shore. They was a little somebody on the railroad train waitin' to go on
with him--after he'd done kissed you good-bye--and _left_ you!"

Judith sat, head up, staring at him. Her less worthy nature was always
instantly roused by this man's approach. Savage resentment, jealousy,
hate, stirred in her crushed spirit; they raised their heads; their
movement crowded out grief and humiliation. It must be true--she had
proposed Double Springs, and he had said Garyville would be better. He
had refused in so many words her offer of herself. He had kissed her----

"No!--no!--no!" she cried to the man before her, "don't you look at
me--don't you speak to me."

"Why, Judith," he protested, hanging on Selim's flank and talking to her
as she whirled the sorrel into the road and put him at the slope at a
pace which that petted animal very much resented, "why Judith, ef one
feller goes back on you thataway you be mad at him--he's the one to be
mad at. Here's me, I stand willin' to make it up. Creed Bonbright has
shamed you--he's left you; but you could make him look like a fool if you
would only say the word--and you and me would----"

"Now you go back!" Judith turned upon him as one speaks to a dog who is
determined to follow. "I ain't nary 'nother word to say to you. Leave me
alone!"

"But Judith, hit ain't safe for you to be ridin' up here in the night
time, thisaway," Blatch insisted. "Lemme jest go along with you----"

"I'll be a mighty heap safer alone than I'd be with you," Judith told
him, urging Selim ahead, "and anybody that knows you well will say so.
You--go--back."

Chapter XIX

Cast Out

Judith reached the Top in the grey, disillusioning light of early dawn.
The moon, a ghastly wraith, was far down in the west, the