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  ,I ,,H PD A VISIT 6! ,HEI<TS1 B ,I H N
SE5 H] S9CE %E LEFT3 ,JOSEPH HELD ! DOOR
9 8 H& :5 ,I CALL$ 6ASK AF H]1 & WDN'T
LET ME PASS4 ,HE SD ,MRS4 ,L9TON 0
8?RANG10 &! MA/] 0 N IN4 ,ZILLAH HAS
TOLD ME "S?+ (! WAY !Y G ON1 O!RWISE ,I
%D H>DLY "K :O 0 D1D & :O LIV+4 ,%E ?9KS
,CA!R9E HAU<TY1 & DOES N L H]1 ,I C
GUESS 0H] TALK4 ,MY "Y LADY ASK$ "S AID
( H] :5 %E F/ CAME2 B ,MR4 ,H1?CLIFF
TOLD H] 6FOLL[ H] [N BUSI;S1 & LET 8
DAU<T]-IN-LAW LOOK AF H]F2 & ,ZILLAH
WILL+LY ACQUIESC$1 2+ A N>R[-M9D$1
SELFI% WOMAN4 ,CA!R9E EV9C$ A *'S
ANNOY.E AT ? NEGLECT2 REPD X ) 3TEMPT1 &
?US 5LI/$ MY 9=MANT AM;G H] 5EMIES1 Z
SECURELY Z IF %E _H D"O H] "S GRT WR;G4
,I _H A L;G TALK ) ,ZILLAH AB SIX WEEKS
AGO1 A LL 2F Y CAME1 "O "D :5 WE =EGA!R$
ON ! MOOR2 & ? IS :AT %E TOLD ME4
  8,! F/ ?+ ,MRS4 ,L9TON DID10 %E SD1
8ON H] >RIVAL AT ! ,HEI<TS1 0 6RUN
UP/AIRS1 )\T EV5 WI%+ GD EV5+ 6ME &
,JOSEPH2 %E %UT H]F 96,L9TON'S ROOM1 &
REMA9$ TILL MORN+4 ,!N1 :ILE ! MA/] &
,E>N%AW 7 AT BR1KFA/1 %E 5T]$ ! H\SE1 &
ASK$ ALL 9 A QUIV] IF ! DOCTOR MI<T 2
S5T =8 H] C\S9 0 V ILL4
  8,8,WE "K T60' ANSW]$ ,H1?CLIFF2 ,8B 8
LIFE IS N WOR? A F>?+1 & ,I WON'T SP5D A
F>?+ ON HM40'
  8,8,B ,I _C TELL H[ 6D10' %E SD2 ,8&
IF NO BODY W HELP ME1 HE'LL DIE60'
  8,8,WALK \ (! ROOM10' CRI$ ! MA/]1 ,8&
LET ME N"E HE> A ^W M AB HM6 ,N"O "H C>E
:AT 2COMES ( HM2 IF Y D1 ACT ! NURSE2 IF
Y D N1 LOCK HM UP & L1VE HM40'
  8,!N %E 2GAN 6BO!R ME1 & ,I SD ,I'D _H
5 PLAGUE )! TIRE"S ?+2 WE EA* _H \R
TASKS1 & H]S 0 6WAIT ON ,L9TON1 ,MR4
,H1?CLIFF BID ME L1VE T LAB\R 6H]4
  8,H[ !Y MANAG$ TGR1 ,I C'T TELL4 ,I
FANCY HE FRETT$ A GRT D1L1 & MOAN$
HISSELN NI<T & "D2 & %E _H PRECI\S LL
RE/3 "O CD GUESS 0H] :ITE FACE & H1VY
EYES4 ,%E "S"TS CAME 96! KIT*5 ALL
WILD]$ L1 & LOOK$ Z IF %E WD FA9 BEG
ASSI/.E2 B ,I 0 N GO+ 64OBEY ! MA/]3 ,I
N"E D>E 4OBEY HM1 ,MRS4 ,D1N2 &1 ?\< ,I
?"\ X WR;G T ,K5NE? %D N 2 S5T =1 X 0 NO
3C]N ( M9E EI 6ADVISE OR -PLA91 & ,I ALW
REFUS$ 6M$DLE4 ,ONCE OR TWICE1 AF WE _H
G"O 6B$1 ,I'VE HAPP5$ 6OP5 MY DOOR AG &
SE5 H] SITT+ CRY+ ON ! /AIRS' TOP2 & !N
,I'VE %UT MYF 9 QK1 = FE> ( 2+ MOV$
69T]F]E4 ,I DID P;Y H] !N1 ,I'M SURE3 /
,I DIDN'T WI% 6LOSE MY PLACE1 Y "K4
  8,AT LA/1 "O NI<T %E CAME BOLDLY 96MY
*AMB]1 & F"R5$ ME \ ( MY WITS1 0SAY+3
  8,8,TELL ,MR4 ,H1?CLIFF T 8 SON IS
DY+- ,I'M SURE HE IS1 ? "T4 ,GET UP1
9/ANTLY1 & TELL HM40'
  8,HAV+ UTT]$ ? SPEE*1 %E VANI%$ AG4 ,I
LAY A QU>T] ( AN H\R LI/5+ & TREMBL+4
,NO?+ /IRR$- ! H\SE 0 QUIET4
  8,%E'S MISTAK51 ,I SD 6MYF4 ,HE'S GOT
OV] X4 ,I NE$N'T 4TURB !M2 & ,I 2GAN
6DOZE4 ,B MY SLEEP 0 M>R$ A SECOND "T 0A
%>P R++ (! BELL- ! ONLY BELL WE H1 PUT
UP ON PURPOSE = ,L9TON2 &! MA/] CALL$
6ME 6SEE :AT 0 ! MATT]1 & 9=M !M T HE
WDN'T H T NOISE REP1T$4
  8,I DELIV]$ ,CA!R9E'S MESSAGE4 ,HE
CURS$ 6HMF1 & 9 A FEW M9UTES CAME \ )A
LI<T$ C&LE1 & PROCE$$ 6_! ROOM4 ,I
FOLL[$4 ,MRS4 ,H1?CLIFF 0 S1T$ 0!
B$SIDE1 ) H] H&S FOLD$ ON H] KNEES4 ,H]
"F-IN-LAW W5T UP1 HELD ! LI<T 6,L9TON'S
FACE1 LOOK$ AT HM1 & T\*$ HM2 AFWS HE
TURN$ 6H]4
  8,8,N[- ,CA!R9E10' HE SD1 ,8H[ D Y
FEEL80'
  8,%E 0 DUMB4
  8,8,H[ D Y FEEL1 ,CA!R9E80' HE REP1T$4
  8,8,HE'S SAFE1 & ,I'M FREE10' %E
ANSW]$3 ,8,I %D FEEL WELL-B10' %E 3T9U$1
)A BITT];S %E CDN'T 3C1L1 ,8Y H LEFT ME
S L;G 6/RU7LE AG/ D1? AL"O1 T ,I FEEL &
SEE ONLY D1?6 ,I FEEL L D1?60'
  8,& %E LOOK$ L X1 TOO6 ,I GAVE H] A LL
W9E4 ,H>ETON & ,JOSEPH1 :O _H BE5 WAK5$
0! R++ &! S.D ( FEET1 & HE>D \R TALK F
\TSIDE1 N[ 5T]$4 ,JOSEPH 0 FA91 ,I
2LIEVE1 (! LAD'S REMOVAL2 ,H>ETON SEEM$
A ?"\ BO!R$2 ?\< HE 0 M TAK5 UP ) />+ AT
,CA!R9E ?AN ?9K+ ( ,L9TON4 ,B ! MA/] BID
HM GET (F 6B$ AG3 WE DIDN'T WANT 8 HELP4
,HE AFWS MADE ,JOSEPH REMOVE ! BODY 6HIS
*AMB]1 & TOLD ME 6RETURN 6M9E1 & ,MRS4
,H1?CLIFF REMA9$ 0H]F4
  8,IN ! MORN+1 HE S5T ME 6TELL H] %E M/
-E D[N 6BR1KFA/2 %E _H UNDRESS$1 &
APPE>$ GO+ 6SLEEP1 & SD %E 0 ILL2 AT :
,I H>DLY WOND]$4 ,I 9=M$ ,MR4 ,H1?CLIFF1
& HE REPLI$3
  8,8,WELL1 LET H] 2 TILL AF ! FUN]AL2 &
G UP N[ & !N 6GET H] :AT IS NE$;L2 &1 Z
SOON Z %E SEEMS BETT]1 TELL ME40'0
  ,CA?Y /AY$ UP/AIRS A =TNI<T1 AC
6,ZILLAH2 :O VISIT$ H] TWICE A "D1 & WD
H BE5 R M FRLY1 B H] ATTEMPTS AT 9CR1S+
K9D;S 7 PR\DLY & PROMPTLY REPELL$4
  ,H1?CLIFF W5T UP ONCE1 6%[ H] ,L9TON'S
W4 ,HE _H 2QU1!D ! :OLE ( HIS1 & :AT _H
BE5 H] MOVA# PROP]TY 6HIS "F3 ! POOR
CR1TURE 0 ?R1T5$1 OR COAX$1 96T ACT DUR+
H] WEEK'S ABS;E1 :5 8 UNCLE DI$4 ,! L&S1
2+ A M9OR1 HE CD N M$DLE )4 ,H["E1 ,MR4
,H1?CLIFF HAS CLAIM$ & KEPT !M 9 8
WIFE'S "R & 8 AL3 ,I SUPPOSE LEG,Y3 AT
ANY RATE1 ,CA!R9E1 DE/ITUTE ( CA% & FRS1
_C 4TURB 8 POSSES.N4
  8,NOBODY10 SD ,ZILLAH1 8APPROA*$ H]
DOOR1 EXCEPT T ONCE1 B ,I2 & NOBODY ASK$
ANY?+ AB H]4 ,! F/ O3A.N ( H]
-+ D[N 96! H\SE 0 ON A ,SUN"D AFN4 ,%E
_H CRI$ \1 :5 ,I C>RI$ UP H] D9N]1 T %E
CDN'T BE> ANY L;G] 2+ 9 ! COLD3 & ,I
TOLD H] ! MA/] 0 GO+ 6,?RU%CROSS
,GRANGE1 & ,E>N%AW & ,I NE$N'T H9D] H] F
DESC5D+2 S1 Z SOON Z %E HE>D ,H1?CLIFF'S
HORSE TROT (F1 %E MADE H] APPE>.E DONN$
9 BLACK1 & H] YELL[ CURLS -B$ BACK 2H H]
E>S Z PLA9 Z A ,QUAK]3 %E CDN'T -B !M \4
  8,JOSEPH & ,I G5],Y G 6*APEL ON
,SUN"DS02 ! KIRK1 Y "K1 HAS NO M9I/] N[1
EXPLA9$ ,MRS4 ,D1N2 & !Y CALL !
,ME?ODI/S' OR ,BAPTI/S' PLACE 7,I C'T
SAY : X IS7 AT ,GIMM]TON1 A *APEL4
8,JOSEPH _H G"O10 %E 3T9U$1 8B ,I ?"\
PROP] 6BIDE AT HOME4 ,"Y FOLKS >E ALW !
BETT] = AN ELD]'S OV]LOOK+2 & ,H>ETON1 )
ALL 8 BA%;L;S1 ISN'T A MODEL ( NICE
2HAVI\R4 ,I LET HM "K T 8 C\S9 WD V
LIKELY SIT ) U1 & %E _H BE5 ALW US$ 6SEE
! ,SA2A? RESPECT$2 S HE _H Z GD L1VE 8
GUNS & BITS ( 9DOOR "W AL"O1 :ILE %E
/AY$4 ,HE COL\R$ UP AT ! NEWS1 & CA/ 8
EYES OV] 8 H&S & CLO!S4 ,! TRA9-OIL &
GUNP[D] 7 %OV$ \ ( SI<T 9 A M9UTE4 ,I
SAW HE M1NT 6GIVE H] 8 -PANY2 & ,I
GUESS$1 0HIS WAY1 HE WANT$ 6BE PRES5TA#2
S1 LAU<+1 Z ,I DUR/ N LAU< :5 ! MA/] IS
BY1 ,I (F]$ 6HELP HM1 IF HE WD1 & JOK$
AT 8 3FU.N4 ,HE GREW SULL51 & 2GAN
6SWE>4
  8,N[1 ,MRS4 ,D1N10 ,ZILLAH W5T ON1
SEE+ ME N PL1S$ 0H] MANN]1 8Y HAPP5 ?9K
YR "Y LADY TOO F9E = ,MR4 ,H>ETON2 &
HAPP5 Y'RE "R3 B ,I [N ,I %D LOVE WELL
6BR+ H] PRIDE A PEG L[]4 ,& :AT W ALL H]
LE>N+ & H] DA9TI;S D = H]1 N[8 ,%E'S Z
POOR Z Y OR ,I3 POOR]1 ,I'LL 2 B.D3 Y'RE
SAV+1 & ,I'M DO+ MY LL ALL T ROAD40
  ,H>ETON ALL[$ ,ZILLAH 6GIVE HM H] AID2
& %E FLATT]$ HM 96A GD HUM\R3 S1 :5
,CA!R9E CAME1 HALF =GETT+ H] =M] 9SULTS1
HE TRI$ 6MAKE HMF AGREEA#1 0!
H\SEKEEP]'S A3.T4
  8,MISSIS WALK$ IN10 %E SD1 8Z *ILL Z
AN ICICLE1 & Z HI< Z A PR9CESS4 ,I GOT
UP & (F]$ H] MY S1T 9 ! >M*AIR4 ,NO1 %E
TURN$ UP H] NOSE AT MY CIVIL;Y4 ,E>N%AW
ROSE1 TOO1 & BID H] -E 6! SETTLE1 & SIT
CLOSE 0! FIRE3 HE 0 SURE %E 0 />V$4
  8,8,I'VE BE5 />V$ A MON? & M10' %E
ANSW]$1 RE/+ ON ! ^W Z SCORN;L Z %E CD4
  8,& %E GOT A *AIR = H]F1 & PLAC$ X AT
4T.E F BO? ( U4 ,HAV+ SAT TILL %E 0 W>M1
%E 2GAN 6LOOK R.D1 & 4COV]$ A NUMB] (
BOOKS 9 ! DRESS]2 %E 0 9/ANTLY ^U H]
FEET AG1 /RET*+ 6R1* !M3 B !Y 7 TOO HI<
UP4 ,H] C\S91 AF WAT*+ H] 5D1V\RS A
:ILE1 AT LA/ SUMMON$ C\RAGE 6HELP H]2 %E
HELD H] FROCK1 & HE FILL$ X )! F/ T CAME
6H&4
  8,T 0 A GRT ADV.E =! LAD4 ,%E DIDN'T
?ANK HM2 /1 HE FELT GRATIFI$ T %E _H
A3EPT$ 8 ASSI/.E1 & V5TUR$ 6/& 2H Z %E
EXAM9$ !M1 & EV5 6/OOP & PO9T \ :AT
/RUCK 8 FANCY 9 C]TA9 OLD PICTURES : !Y
3TA9$2 NOR 0 HE DAUNT$ 0! SAUCY /YLE 9 :
%E J]K$ ! PAGE F 8 F+]3 HE 3T5D$ HMF )
GO+ A BIT F>!R BACK1 & LOOK+ AT H] 9/1D
(! BOOK4 ,%E 3T9U$ R1D+1 OR SEEK+ = "S?+
6R1D4 ,8 ATT5;N 2CAME1 0DEGREES1 Q C5T]$
9 ! /UDY ( H] ?ICK1 SILKY CURLS3 H] FACE
HE CDN'T SEE1 & %E CDN'T SEE HM4 ,&1
P]H1 N Q AWAKE 6:AT HE DID1 B ATTRACT$ L
A * 6A C&LE1 AT LA/ HE PROCE$$ F />+
6T\*+2 HE PUT \ 8 H& & /ROKE "O CURL1 Z
G5TLY Z IF X 7 A BIRD4 ,HE MI<T H /RUCK
A KNIFE 96H] NECK1 %E />T$ R.D 9 S* A
TAK+4
  8,8,GET AWAY1 ? MO;T6 ,H[ D>E Y T\*
ME8 ,:Y >E Y /OPP+ "!80' %E CRI$1 9 A
T"O ( 4GU/4 ,8,I C'T 5DURE Y6 ,I'LL G
UP/AIRS AG1 IF Y -E NE> ME40'
  8,MR4 ,H>ETON RECOIL$1 LOOK+ Z FOOLI%
Z HE CD D3 HE SAT D[N 9 ! SETTLE V
QUIET1 & %E 3T9U$ TURN+ OV] H] VOLUMES
ANO!R HALF-H\R2 F9,Y1 ,E>N%AW CROSS$
OV]1 & :ISP]$ 6ME3
  8,8,W Y ASK H] 6R1D 6U1 ,ZILLAH8 ,I'M
/ALL$ ( DO+ NAU<2 & ,I D L- ,I CD L 6HE>
H]6 ,DUNNOT SAY ,I WANT$ X1 B ASK (
YRSELN40'
  8,8,MR4 ,H>ETON WI%ES Y WD R1D 6U1
MA'AM10' ,I SD IMMLY4 ,8,HE'D TAKE X V
K9D- HE'D 2 M* OBLIG$40'
  8,%E FR[N$2 & LOOK+ UP1 ANSW]$3
  8,8,MR4 ,H>ETON1 &! :OLE SET ( Y1 W 2
GD 5 6"U/& T ,I REJECT ANY PRET;E AT
K9D;S Y H ! HYPOCRISY 6(F]6 ,I DESPISE
Y1 & W H NO?+ 6SAY 6ANY ( Y6 ,:5 ,I WD H
GIV5 MY LIFE = "O K9D ^W1 EV5 6SEE "O (
YR FACES1 Y ALL KEPT (F4 ,B ,I WON'T
-PLA9 6Y6 ,I'M DRIV5 D[N "H 0! COLD2 N
EI 6AMUSE Y OR 5JOY YR SOCIETY40'
  8,8,:AT CD ,I HA0' D"O8' 2GAN ,E>N%AW4
,8,H[ 0 ,I 6BLAME80'
  8,8,OH6 Y >E AN EXCEP;N10' ANSW]$
,MRS4 ,H1?CLIFF1 ,8,I N"E MISS$ S* A
3C]N Z Y40'
  8,8,B ,I (F]$ M ?AN ONCE1 & ASK$10' HE
SD1 K9DL+ UP AT H] P]T;S1 ,8LET ME WAKE
= Y-0'
  8,8,BE SIL5T6 ,I'LL G \ ( DOORS1 OR
ANY":1 R ?AN H YR 4AGREEA# VOICE 9 MY
E>60' SD MY LADY4
  8,H>ETON MUTT]$ %E MI<T G 6HELL = HM6
& UNSL++ 8 GUN1 RE/RA9$ HMF F 8 ,SUN"D
O3UP,NS NO L;G]4 ,HE TALK$ N[1 FREELY
5\<2 & %E PRES5TLY SAW FIT 6RETR1T 6H]
SOLITUDE3 B ! FRO/ _H SET IN1 &1 9 SPITE
( H] PRIDE1 %E 0 =C$ 63DESC5D 6\R -PANY1
M & M4 ,H["E1 ,I TOOK C>E "! %D 2 NO
FUR!R SCORN+ AT MY GD-NATURE3 "E S9CE1
,I'VE BE5 Z /IFF Z H]F2 & %E HAS NO LOV]
OR LIK] AM;G U3 & %E DOES N DES]VE "O2
=1 LET !M SAY ! L1/ ^W 6H]1 & %E'LL CURL
BACK )\T RESPECT 6ANY "O6 ,%E'LL SNAP AT
! MA/] HMF1 & Z GD Z D>ES HM 6?RA% H]2
&! M HURT %E GETS1 ! M V5OM\S %E GR[S40
  ,AT F/1 ON HE>+ ? A3.T F ,ZILLAH1 ,I
DET]M9$ 6L1VE MY SITU,N1 TAKE A COTTAGE1
& GET ,CA!R9E 6-E & LIVE
) ME3 B ,MR4 ,H1?CLIFF WD Z SOON P]MIT T
Z HE WD SET UP ,H>ETON 9 AN 9DEP5D5T
H\SE2 & ,I C SEE NO REM$Y1 AT PRES5T1
UN.S %E CD M>RY AG3 & T S*EME X DOES N
-E )9 MY PROV9CE 6>RANGE4
  ,?US 5D$ ,MRS4 ,D1N'S /ORY4 ,NO?)/&+ !
DOCTOR'S PROPHECY1 ,I AM RAPIDLY RECOV]+
/R5G?2 & ?\< X 2 ONLY ! SECOND WEEK 9
,JANU>Y1 ,I PROPOSE GETT+ \ ON HORSEBACK
9 A "D OR TWO1 & RID+ OV] 6,WU!R+
,HEI<TS1 69=M MY L&"L T ,I % SP5D ! NEXT
SIX MON?S 9 ,LONDON2 &1 IF HE LIKES1 HE
MAY LOOK \ = ANO!R T5ANT 6TAKE ! PLACE
AF ,OCTOB]4 ,I WD N PASS ANO!R W9T] "H =
M*4