Again he peered sharply at her.
“Jude,” as she still sat silent, “I won’t tell the boys what kept me—I won’t tell them nary thing about you. I’ll just let on that I happened to see Bonbright at Garyville.”
“You tell what you’re a mind to,” said Judith bitterly. “I don’t keer what you say.”
Blatchley took the retort coolly. But his light grey eyes narrowed under the black brows.
“Bonbright seemed mightily upsot,” he commented. “Went off on the train an’ left his mule a-standin’.”
Went off on the train! Judith’s heart leaped, then stood still.
“Ye needn’t werry about it—I had Scomp put it up, ’long o’ my other ’n. He’ll send ’em both up a Wednesday. I reckon it ain’t to be wondered at Bonbright was flustered. Who do you ’low he went with on the railroad train? Jude, air you so easy fooled as to think it was a new notion for him to go to Garyville? Didn’t he name it to you that it was a better place than Double Springs?”
Leaning close and watching her face, he saw in it confirmation.
“Shore. They was a little somebody on the railroad train waitin’ to go on with him—after he’d done kissed you good-bye—and left you!”
Judith sat, head up, staring at him. Her less worthy nature was always instantly roused by this man’s approach. Savage resentment, jealousy, hate, stirred in her crushed spirit; they raised their heads; their movement crowded out grief and humiliation. It must be true—she had proposed Double Springs, and he had said Garyville would be better. He had refused in so many words her offer of herself. He had kissed her——