Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-12

do you mean dat for sure?" he
said.
Cant you see there's nothing else
for it, after this? I'll show him that
he can't make me a toy to suit his
convenience I've told him I would
marry you on Sunday, and I'll DO 1t
or die. OF course you don't love me,
for you don't know what love is,
suppose; how-could your" She broke
down and began to catch her breath
amid coughing sobs that left her eyes
dry and feverish.
Tim very unhappy, b-but I'll be
good-wife to you. oh, Poleon, If you
only knew"
He drew a long breath. When he spoke
his voice had the timbre of some softly
played instrument, and a tremor ran
through his words.
mol l don know wat kin of love is
dis. for sure De kim of love know is de
kim 1 sing bout in my songs; I s'pose it's
different breed to yours, an I'm begin to
see it dom live nowhere but on dem
songs of mine. Dere's long tam 1 waste
here now-fve year-but tomorrow so
again loolxin' for my own countree."
'Poleon!' she cried looking up with
startled eyes, mot tomorrow, but Sun
day-we will go together"
| He shook his head. Tomorrow, Necia!
And 1 go alone"
] "Then you won't-marry me she asked,
| in a nushed and frightened voice.
mo! Dere's wan ting 1 can't do even
| for you, Necia, deres wan ting 1 can
geeve, OATS all-jus' wan on all de wori.
I can't kill de liz god wit de bow an
arrer. He's all dat max de sun shine,
de birds sing, an de leaves whisper to me;
he's de wan liT Teller wat max my life
wort Twin an keep music in my soul. If
! I keel i'm dere amt no more lef lax 1t,
! an I'm never goin' fin my Ian of content,
nor sing nor laugh no more. I'm tinkin
/ I would raider sing songs to i'm all alone
onderneat' de stars beside my campfire.
an talk wit i'm in my bark canoe, dan
60 Twin wit you in fine house an let I'm
get col an die"
but I told him I'd marry you-that 1
| had always intended to. He'll believe 1
was lying" she moaned, in distress!
| Oats too bad-but dis ting amt no
! doin's wit me- Dere's wan ting in dis
worl' mus live forever, an dats love-if
we kill i'm den it's purity poor place Tor
stoppin' in. I'm cut off my han for help
you. Necia, but I can't be husban to no
woman in fun"
Your foolish head is full Of romance,
she burst out. ''You think you're doing
I me a favor, but you're not. why
/ there's Runnion-he wants me so much
| that he'd even marry me-! Her wild
! laughter stabbed the man. WAS ever
girl in such a fix! I've been made love
! to ever since 1 was half a woman, but at
thought of priest men seem to turn pale
and run like whipped dogs. I'm only
good enough for bad man and a gamo-
! Ter, I suppose" She sank to seat, hung
out her arms hopelessly. and, bowling her
| head, began to weep uncontrollably. If
| fl only had a woman to talk to-but
] tbax, ara all Tnen-all men"
Poleon waited patiently until her paroX-
ysm of sobbing had passed, then gently
raised her and led her out through the
back door into the summer day, which
( an hour ago had been so bright and
promising and was now so gray and dis
NAL. He followed her with his eyes until
she disappeared inside the low house.
| "An' OATS de end of it all, he mused
Five year I've wait-an' JUS for dis"
Continued in Next Issue