Does that look like I wanted to hurt the 'furriner? I hev knowed
yer dad was up in the mountains all the time, 'n' I hev been a-totin'
things fer him to eat. Does that look like I wanted to hand him
over to the law?"
The girl had let the rifle fall. Moving away, she stood leaning on it
in the shadow, looking down.
"You want to know what call I hev to watch ye, 'n' see that no harm
comes to ye. Yer dad give me the right. You know how he hates
furriners, 'n' whut he would do ef he happened to run across this
furriner atter he has been drinkin'. I'm a-meddlin' because I hev
told him that I am goin' to take keer o' ye, 'n' I mean to do it-ef ye
hates me fer it. I'm a-watchin' ye, Easter," he continued, " 'n' I want
ye to know it. I knowed the furriner begun comm' here cause ye
air not like gals in the settlemints. Y'u air as cur'us to him as one o'
them bugs an' sich-like that he's always a-pickin' up in the woods.
I hevn't said nuthin' to yer dad, fer fear o' his harmin' the furriner;
but I hev seed that ye like him, an' hit's time now fer me to meddle.
Ef he was in love with ye, do ye think he would marry ye? I hev
been in the settle-mints. Folks thar air not as we citizens air. They
air bigoted 'n' high-heeled, 'n' they look down on us. I tell ye, too-
'n' hit air fer yer own good-he air in love with somebody in the
settlemints.
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