ouse and to live regular and to
work hard and to come home to his dinner, when he was tired with his
working and by and by he wanted to have some children all his own to
be good to, and so Sam was real sorry for Melanctha, she was so good
and so sweet always to them, and Jem Richards was a bad man to behave
so to her, but that was always the way a girl got it when she liked
that kind of fast fellow. Anyhow Melanctha was Rose's friend, and Sam
never cared to have anything to do with the kind of trouble always
came to women, when they wanted to have men, who never could know how
to behave good and steady to their women.

And so Sam never said much to Rose about Melanctha. Sam was always
very gentle to her, but now he began less and less to see her. Soon
Melanctha never came any more to the house to see Rose and Sam never
asked Rose anything about her.

Melanctha Herbert was beginning now to come less and less to the house
to be with Rose Johnson. This was because Rose seemed always less and
less now to want her, and Rose would not let Melanctha now do things
for her. Melanctha was always humble to her and Melanctha always
wanted in every way she could to do things for her. Rose said no,
she guessed she do that herself like she likes to have it better.
Melanctha is real good to stay so long to help her, but Rose guessed
perhaps Melanctha better go home now, Rose don't need nobody to help
her now, she is feeling real strong, not like just after she had all
that trouble with the baby, and then Sam, when he comes home for his
dinner he likes it when Rose is all alone there just to give him his
dinner. Sam always is so tired now, like he always is in the summer,
so many people always on the steamer, and they make so much work so
Sam is real tired now, and he likes just to eat his dinner and never
have people in the house to be a trouble to him.

Each day Rose treated Melanctha more and more as if she never wanted
Melanctha any more to come there to the house to see her. Melanctha
dared not ask Rose why she acted in this way to her. Melanctha badly
needed to have Rose always there to save her. Melanctha wanted badly
to cling to her and Rose had always been so solid for her. Melanctha
did not dare to ask Rose if she now no longer wanted her to come and
see her.

Melanctha now never any more had Sam to be gentle to her. Rose always
sent Melanctha away from her before it was time for Sam to come home
to her. One day Melanctha