il' Ann to
him!"

"And you--never spoke? You never told?" Lynda had drawn very close--her
words were barely above a whisper.

"No. It was this-er-way. First, love for him held my tongue mighty
still; then hate; and afterwards I couldn't!"

"But now, Nella-Rose, _now_--why have you spoken--now?"

"I haven't yet. Not to them-all. I had to come here--to him first. I
reckon you don't know about Burke and me?"

Lynda shook her head. She had thought she knew--but she had wandered
sadly.

"When Marg laid my trouble to Burke he just took it! First I couldn't
understand. But he took my trouble--and me! He took lil' Ann and me out
of Miss Lois Ann's cabin into--peace and safety. He tied every one's
tongue--it seemed like he drove all the--the wrong away by his big,
strong love--and set me free, like he was God! He didn't ask nothing for
a right long time, not 'til I grew to--believe him and trust him. Then
we went--when no one knew--and was married. Now he's my man and he's
always been lil' Ann's father till--till--"

A log fell upon the hearth and both women started guiltily and
affrightedly.

"Go on! go on!" breathed Lynda. "Go on!"

"Till the twins came--Burke's and mine! Then he knew the
difference--even his love for me couldn't help him--it hindered; and
while I--I feared, I understood!"

"Oh! oh! oh!" Lynda covered her aching eyes with her cold hands. She
dared not look at Nella-Rose. That childish yet old face was crowding
everything but pity from the world. Truedale, herself--what did they
matter?

"He--he couldn't bear to have lil' Ann touch--the babies. I could see
him--shiver! And lil' Ann--she's like a flower--she fades if you don't
love her. She grew afraid and--and hid, and it seemed like the soul of
me would die; for, don't you see, Burke thinks that Marg's man is--is
the father, and Marg and Jed lays the trouble to Burke and they think
her--his! And--and it has grown more since the big road brought us-all
closer. The big road brought trouble as well as good. Once"--and here
the haggard face whitened--"once Burke and Jed fought--and a fight in
the hills means more fights! Just then Bill Trim was hurt and told me
before he died; it was like opening a grave! I 'most died 'long with
Bill Trim--'til I studied about lil' Ann! And then--I saw wide, and
right far, like I hadn't since--since before I hated. I saw how I must
come and--tell you-all, and how maybe you'd take lil' Ann, and then I
could go back