PAINTED ROCK
"It stands to reason, the way I look at it," said Higginson, "that arter all Mamie hez the call of both of you, and shootin' seems vain. It goes agin a man to own it, but it looks a solid fact. For once I own I don't see what good killin' a man is. I'd go to Mamie and ask her straight what her mind is, and if she says 'you,' you hev the laugh on Remington; and if she says Remington, you kin look for another girl."
"I don't want to look for no other," said Jerome angrily.
"But you must," urged Jack, "of course you must. She'll be mad if you do. Mary said as much. It appears women isn't the same as men. They hate to lose any man; but if a man don't want a girl he don't care if she marries any galoot, even from the East. You go up to the Griggs', and speak your mind plain and fair and square to Mamie."
"I will," said Jerome.
"Right off!"
"Ter-morrer," said Jerome.
"It makes you mad, I reckon, to think she
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