"You no like have her go, Cap'n? You like better she stay? What for
let her go then?"
"I gave her a pass, Abe. She was so beautiful I couldn't help it."
Abe scratched his head.
"If she so preety, me s'pose you keep her all more for that. No let
her go."
Perez did not explain this point, but presently said:
"Abe, you may let the men go home, if you want. It's nothing to me any
more what happens here in Stockbridge. The silk stockings are welcome
to come and hang me as soon as they please," and his head dropped on
his breast like one whose life has suddenly lost its spring and
motive.
"Look a here, Cap'n," said Abe, "you say to me, Abe, stop that air
gal, fetch her back. Good. Me do it quick. Cap'n feel all right
again."
"I can't, Abe, I can't. I promised. I gave her my word. I can't. I
wish she had asked me to cut my throat instead," and he despairingly
shook his head.
Abe regarded him with evident perplexity for some moments, and then
with an abrupt nod of the head turned and glided out of the room.
Perez, in his gloomy preoccupation did not even note his going. His
head sunk lower on his breast, and he murmured to himself wild words
of passion and despair.
Pages:
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339