Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/190

 where he had been sitting with. Edith and untied his horse.

"I'll keep an eye skinned for your cattle, Edie, but I reckon it's not much use. They're a long way from this range by now."

"Come soon again, won't you, Ben?" Her voice was plaintive with its note of entreaty.

"When I can."

"She doesn't look very happy," Bob commented as they rode away.

"They're losin' lots of stock." Ben added: "Edie's a good girl."

When they were out of hearing Mrs. Blakely, with a display of energy so rare as to startle, took Miss Clytie Blakely by each shoulder and shook her with a vigor which threatened to dislocate her neck.

"Why didn't you do as I tole you and open that gate?"

"Wha' for?"

"Wha' for? Wha' for! Ain't the stars and the kyards, and the bumps on yoah haid, and yoah pa'm all said you was goin' to have a chanst to ketch a rich husband? And now you let him slip through yoah fingers and you goin' on sixteen and ready to come out!"