Mebbe hit air all right, but I come to ye now, 'n' I ax ye in
the name of the livin' God, who is a-watchin' you a-guidin' me, air
ye goin' to leave the po' gal to die sorrowin' fer ye, or do ye aim to
come back 'n' marry her?
Raines had stopped now in the centre of the cabin, and the
shadows flickering slowly over him gave an unearthly aspect to his
tall, gaunt figure, as he stood with uplifted arm, pale face, glowing
eyes, and disordered hair.
"The gal hasn't got no protecter-her dad, as you know, is a-hidin'
from jestice in the mount'ins-and I'm a-standin' in his place, 'n' I ax
ye to do only whut you know ye ought."
There was nothing threatening in the mountaineer 's attitude, nor
dictatorial; and Clayton felt his right to say what he had, in spite of
a natural impulse to resent such interference. Besides, there sprang
up in his heart a sudden great admiration for this rough, uncouth
fellow who was capable of such unselfishness; who, true to the
trust of her father and his God, was putting aside the strongest
passion of his life for what he believed was the happiness of the
woman who had inspired it. He saw, too, that the sacrifice was
made with perfect unconsciousness that it was unusual or
admirable. He rose to his feet, and the two men faced each other.
"If you had told me this long ago," said Clayton, "I should have
gone away, but you seemed distrustful and suspicious.
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