OCR Text |
Show Page 7 did I realize I had been squeezing Aunt Mary's hands as though I could hold her in this world, could make her bide with me always. But in my heart I knew my efforts were for naught. I could no more keep life in Aunt Mary than I could still the fearsome storm that had raged without. Yet I knew not how to stop that flood of words. "You cannot die, Aunt Mary. You cannot leave me too. I'll be all-all-«alone." It was then the dark knot I had intended to keep tied up deep within me loosened. All my fears came tumbling out. "I am so frightened of Virginia, Aunt Mary," I yammered. "Something dreadful shall happen to me if you're not there. People starve there all the time. And Indians--I am feared to the marrow of the Indians. "And should I find someone I wish to marry, he'll treat me as a squaw and I shall end up a drudge with nothing in life to look forward to but work, work, work. No time for books, or music, or laughing, or . . ." My shoulders shook and great racking sobs shuddered through me. Then I felt a sharp sting upon my cheek and my head snapped backward. I looked to see Anne staring at me in dismay, her large blue eyes brimming with tears and the hand that had slapped me now clenched in a fist 'gainst her teeth. Yet I saw determination as well as tears in her eyes. |