eyes and deepened in her heart.

"Don't be afraid, Frale; they're gone long ago, and won't come back--not
for a while, I reckon."

He smiled faintly, never taking his eyes from her face. "I hain't
afeared o' them. I hev been, but--" He shook her hand from his arm and
made as if he would push her away, then suddenly he leaned toward her
and caught her in his arms, clasping her so closely that she could feel
his wildly beating heart.

"Frale, Frale! Don't, Frale. You never used to do me this way."

"No, I never done you this-a-way. I wisht I had. I be'n a big fool." He
kissed her, the first kisses of his young manhood, on brow and cheeks
and lips, in spite of her useless writhings. He continued muttering as
he held her: "I sinned fer you. I killed a man. He said he'd hev you. He
'lowed he'd go down yander to the school whar you war at an' marry you
an' fetch you back. I war a fool to 'low you to go thar fer him to
foller an' get you. I killed him. He's dade."

The short, interrupted sentences fell on her ears like blows. She ceased
struggling and, drooping upon his bosom, wept, sobbing heart-brokenly.

"Oh, Frale!" she moaned, "if you had only told me, I could have given
you my promise and you would have known he was lying and spared him and
saved your own soul." He little knew the strength of his arms as he held
her. "Frale! I am like to perish, you are hurting me so."

He loosed her and she sank, a weary, frightened heap, at his feet. Then
very tenderly he gathered her in his arms and carried her to the great
flat rock and placed her on the old coat she had brought him.

"You know I wouldn't hurt you fer the hull world, Cass." He knelt beside
her, and throwing his arms across her lap buried his face in her dress,
still trembling with his unmastered emotion. She thought him sobbing.

"Can you give me your promise now, Cass?"

"Now? Now, Frale, your hands are blood-guilty," she said, slowly and
hopelessly.

He grew cold and still, waiting in the silence. His hands clutched her
clothing, but he did not lift his head. He had shed blood and had lost
her. They might take him and hang him. At last he told her so, brokenly,
and she knew not what to do.

Gently she placed her hand on his head and drew the thick silken hair
through her fingers, and the touch, to his stricken soul, was a
benediction. The pity of her cooled the fever in his blood and swept
over his spirit the breath of healing. For the first time, afte