Page:Hell-Bent fer Heaven (Hughes 1924).pdf/40

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[Backing away toward the stairs]

All right, Matt. You’re the boss o’ that. You can hector me an’ bully me about the things o’ this world, but you cain’t keep me from lovin’ your immortal soul. An’ you cain’t take away my reward which is in heaven. An’ you cain’t escape yourn—which ain’t!

[He disappears upstairs. glares after him, his right arm trembling significantly.]

It’s the truth that hurts, Matt. Your reward ain’t in heaven.

[Raging inwardly]

I wish he’d go thar er som’ers an’ git hisn!

I cain’t make him out. If he ’us jist a plain hypocrite I’d know how to take him. But he pears to honestly b’lieve everybody’s got to be like him afore they’re saved.

Mebby they has got to be different from you an’ Matt.