Page:Scarlet Sister Mary (1928).pdf/105

 saw stars, and she couldn't suck in enough breath to yell for help. She had to think fast, for, vexed as July was, he might kill her. Her body was stunned, but her wits were strangely sharpened. She lay flat on the floor without moving, and when she saw him looking down to see if she really was hurt very much, she began to cry. Not a loud grown-woman's crying, but a poor little pitiful whining like a young baby too sick to live much longer.

"Git up off dat floor, May-e," July shouted, and she pretended to do her best, then fell back down like something hamstrung, crying weakly all the time.

"What de matter all you?" he stormed.

"My back's broke," she whispered, "broke in two—you done killed me, July."

He jerked her up roughly and tried to make her stand on her feet, but her bones melted and fear shook her like a palsy.

"Stand up! May-e!" He tried to compel her, but she fell up against him, and with her arms around his neck, she sobbed against his breast. She could feel the blood beating in his heart and his breath was heaving hard, but his big arms went softly around her and he picked her up and carried her to the shed room and laid her on the bed. She shut her eyes and held her breath so