“I ain’t got no time,” the old woman returned pantingly. “Nella-Rose is down to my place.”
The warm, sunny room grew stifling to Marg.
“What a-doing?” she said, half under her breath.
“She’s got a—lil’ baby.”
The colour faded from Marg’s face, leaving it pasty and heavy.
“Burke—thar?”
“He ain’t been thar all winter. I hid Nella-Rose and her shame but I dare not any longer. I reckon she’s going off.”
“Dying?”
“May be; or—” and here Lois Ann tapped her head.
“And he—he went and left her?” groaned Marg—“the devil!”