As he turned the beast about to depart, just for one instant he looked
in her direction.
"I will see you again in the morning. By that time I shall have
decided what is best for us both."
He waited for no more. There was nothing to wait for. He lifted the
reins and his horse set off. The dust rose up and screened him from
view.
Once more Elvine was standing on the veranda. Once more her gaze was
following the trail of rising dust. But there was no fever of suspense
in her beautiful eyes now. There were not even tears. The blow had
fallen. Fate had caught up with her. Its merciless onrush had
overwhelmed her. She was crushed. She was broken under its
sledge-hammer blow. She stood drooping, utterly, utterly broken and
spiritless before the man's swift, brief indictment and action.
The end had come. Nor had it anything of the end she had visualized in
her dread. It was ten times more cruel than she had even dared to
dream.
CHAPTER XX
AT BUD'S
Supper was over when Jeff arrived. He came straight into the room
where the colored girl had just finished clearing the table.
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