“The coward, to try to steal a man’s wife, and deceive you that way, too!” said Joe, his anger rising.
“Oh, you don’t know him as well as I do!” she defended, shaking her head solemnly. “He’s so grand, and good, and I love him, Joe–oh, Joe, I love him!”
“It’s wrong for you to say that!” Joe harshly reproved her. “I don’t want to hear you say that; you’re Isom’s wife.”
“Yes, God help me,” said she.
“You could be worse off than you are, Ollie; as it is you’ve got a name!”
“What’s a name when you despise it?” said she bitterly.
“Have you thought what people would say about you if you went away with Morgan, Ollie?” inquired Joe gently.
“I don’t care. We intend to go to some place where we’re not known, and––”
“Hide,” said Joe. “Hide like thieves. And that’s what you’d be, both of you, don’t you see? You’d never be comfortable and happy, Ollie, skulking around that way.”
“Yes, I would be happy,” she maintained sharply. “Mr. Morgan is a gentleman, and he’s good. He’d be proud of me, he’d take care of me like a lady.” 106