Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/67

 DISILLUSIONMENT

" Stay here ? " he cried in boyish passion. "You're the only lady in the room so far as I can see ! What would I stay for?"

The citizens of Prouty were still deeply impressed by each other's pretensions, as the reputations the majority had left in their " home towns " had not yet caught up with them. Therefore, being greatly concerned about what his neighbor thought of him, no one would have dared be friendly to the ostracized couple even if he had the disposition.

Kate and Hughie walked out, very erect and looking straight ahead, followed by a feeling of satisfaction that this opportunity had presented itself for the new order to show where it stood in the matter of accepting doubtful characters on an equal social footing. It had properly vindicated itself of the charge that western society was lax in such matters. That they had hurt — terribly hurt — another, was of small importance.

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