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With that he began to pace the court, and his silver spurs jangled ainst his leather chaps

"So--it's true--what I heard hi before her "You made love to me--to bind my hands?"

"Yes," confessed Jane It took all her wolance

"All these days that you've been so friendly an' like a pardner--all these evenin's that have been so bewilderin' to me--your beauty--an'--an' the way you looked an' came close to me--they oman's tricks to bind my hands?"

"Yes"

"An' your sweetness that seemed so natural, an' your throwin' little Fay an' ether--to make me love the child--all that was for the saesture for him

"Mebbe it wasn't a the child in--that was hellish!"

Jane's passionate, unheeding zeal began to loo, Fay loves you dearly-- and I--I've grown to--to like you"

"That's powerful kind of you, now," he said Sarcaser "An' you sit there an' look e woman, Jane Withersteen"

"I'e you"

"Would you mind tellin' me just what you tried?"

"I tried to make you see beauty in me and be softened by it I wanted you to care for me so that I could influence you It wasn't easy At first you were stone-blind Then I hoped you'd love little Fay, and through that co children fatherless"

"Jane Withersteen, either you're a fool or noble beyond my understandin' Mebbe you're both I know you're blind What you --what you did was to make me love you"

"Lassiter!"

"I reckon I'h I never loved any one but --"

"Oh, are you Milly's brother?"

"Yes, I was, an' I loved her There never was any one but her in o I back-trailed er till--till Milly left home, an' then I became somethin' else--Lassiter! For years I've been a lonelyI cae was gradual, an' I took no notice of it I understand now that never-satisfied longin' to see you, listen to you, watch you, feel you near hts I've had no thoughts but of you I've lived an' breathed for you An' nohen I knohat it means--what you've done--I'm burnin' up with hell's fire!"