"Oh, hit's you, is it, Bud," she said, raising her head slowly, "howdy?"
"Howdy yoreself," said the young man, looking down at her tenderly.
"Bresh off yore pants an' set down," said the girl making room for him on the step. The young man did so, at the same time taking hold of her hand with awkward tenderness.
"Jane," he said, "I jest can't wait fur my answer no longer! you got to tell me to-night, either one way or the other. Dock Heaters has been a-blowin' hit aroun' that he has beat my time with you. I don't believe it Jane, fur after keepin' me waitin' all these years, I don't believe you'd go back on me. You know I've allus loved you, ever sence we was little children together."
The girl was silent until he leaned over and said in pleading tones, "What do you say, Jane?"
"Don't talk that-a-way, Jane, you know ef you jest say 'yes,' I'll be the happiest man in the state."
"Well, yes, then, Bud, for you're my choice, even ef I have fooled with you fur a long time; an' I'm glad now that I kin make somebody happy." The girl was shivering, and her hands were cold, but she made no movement to rise or enter the house.
Bud put his arms around her and kissed her shyly. And just then a shout arose from the crowd down the street.
"It's the boys gittin' worked up, I reckon. They're going to lynch them niggers to-night that burned ole man Williams out."
The girl leaped to her feet, "They mustn't do it," she cried. "They ain't never been tried!"
"Set down, Janey," said her lover, "they've owned up to it."
"I don't believe it," she exclaimed, "somebody's jest a lyin' on 'em to git 'em hung because they're niggers."
"Sh--Jane, you're excited, you ain't well; I noticed that when I first come to-night. Somebody's got to suffer fur that house-burnin', an' it might ez well be them ez anybody else. You mustn't talk so. Ef people knowed you wuz a standin' up fur niggers so, it 'ud ruin you."
He had hardly finished speaking, when the gate opened, and another man joined them.
"Hello, there, Dock Heaters, that you?" said Bud Mason.
"Yes, it's me. How are you, Jane?" said the newcomer.
"Oh, jest middlin', Dock, I ain't right well."
"Well, you might be in better business than settin' out here talkin' to Bud Mason."