Across the mountaineer's forehead ran a
crimson scar yet unhealed. Could he have inflicted upon himself
this fearful penance?
Oh, it was only the moulds. I seed it all so plain that I throwed up
my hands, fergittin' the moulds, 'n' the hot lead struck me thar;
but," he continued, solemnly, "I knowed the Lord hed tuk that way
o' punishin' me fer the sin o havin' murder in my mind, 'n' I fell on
my knees right thar a-prayin' fer fergiveness: 'n' since that night I
hev stayed away from ye till the Lord give me power to stand ag'in
the temptation o' harmin' ye. He hev showed me another way, 'n'
now I hev come to ye as he hev tol' me. I hevn't tol' ye this fer
nothin'. Y'u in see now whut I think o' Easter, ef I was tempted to
take the life o' the man who tuk her from me, 'n' I reckon ye will
say I've got the right to ax ye whut I'm a-goin' to. I hev knowed the
gal sence she was a baby. We was children together, and thar
hain't no use hidin' that I never keered a straw fer anuther woman.
She used to be mighty wilful 'n' contrary, but as soon as you come I
seed at oncet that a change was comm' over her. I mistrusted ye,
'n' I warned her ag'in' ye. But when I l'arned that ye was a-teachin'
her, and a-doin' whut I had tried my best to do 'n' failed, I let things
run along, thinkin' that mebbe ever'thing would come out right,
after all.
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