I'm so upset."
"I reckon I'll go, Ruth." But still he lingered, watching the door, now
smiling faintly, understandingly. Beyond the door were the sounds of
sobbing.
Lawler folded his arms over his chest and with the fingers of one hand
caressing his chin, watched the door.
"Ruth," he said, finally; "where is your father?"
"I--I d-don't know. And I don't c-care."
Lawler started, and his eyes narrowed with suspicion as he looked at the
door--it seemed that he was trying to peer through it.
"Ruth," he said slowly; "I saw you looking into the schoolhouse through
the broken window, after I hit Singleton the second time, and while I
was talking to him. What did you hear?"
"Everything, Kane--everything." The sobs were furious, now.
Lawler frowned through a silence during which his eyes glowed savagely.
Then, after a while, he spoke again.
"I've known it for a long time, Ruth."
"Oh!" she sobbed.
"It was Singleton's fault. He won't do it any more."
There was no answer; a brooding silence came from beyond the door.
Then Lawler said gently: "Ruth, I'm asking you again: Will you marry
me?"
"I'll never marry you, now, Kane--never, never, never!"
The sobs had ceased now; but the voice was choked with emotion.
"All right, Ruth," said Lawler; "I'll ask you again, sometime.
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