They say you've
been spoiled to death by girls over the mountain."
"I asked her to come out here with me to-day."
"Did you? You don't mean it! Well, I'll bet she--but I'm not goin' to
tell you; you are vain enough already." They were silent for several
minutes after that. She seated herself on a log by the roadside, and
he stood over her, his eyes on the pines behind which Bates and Harriet
had disappeared. What could be keeping them so long? Jennie prattled
on for half an hour, but he did not hear half she said. Afternoon
service began. The preacher gave out the hymn in a solemn, monotonous
voice, and the congregation sang it.
"We must be goin' purty soon," said Jennie; "my gracious, what is the
matter with them people; hadn't we better go hunt 'em?"
"I think not, they--but there they are now."
Harriet and Bates had turned into the road from behind a clump of
blackberry vines, and, with their heads hung down, were slowly
approaching. Looking up and seeing Westerfelt and Jennie, they
stopped, turned their faces aside, and continued talking.
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