House Divided Read Online Free

grip, but his eyes cast all around. Light was coming fast. Past him, following his glance, Lucy saw her footprints dark upon the dew-hung grass. Suppose he traced them, caught up with Tony before her lover could be gone. She spoke to hold him here.
    â€œI just went to the crick to wash myself.”
    â€œWash yourself? Middle of the night?”
    â€œI was hot enough to smother. I couldn’t sleep.”
    â€œFoolishness! Yo’re always washing yourself.”
    Ma cried: “What if she does! It don’t do anybody any hurt to keep as clean as they can.”
    â€œWhat you doing in your store dress?”
    â€œI washed out my other one, left it spread on the bushes to dry.” This was true, in case he went to look.
    He grunted, grudgingly convinced. “This one’d be dirty again time you got the corn pulled. Go along and fetch the other. Nannie, git breakfast startled. Long day ahead; but not long enough for all we’ve got to do.”
    Lucy breathed deep with relief. Pa was deceived; so Tony was away, safe away. Tony Currain, Tony Currain, Tony Currain! How
many days to Williamsburg? How many days to return again, to carry her away, to marry her away!
    No matter how many! While she waited, her heart would sing its song.

    Ma was first to guess the truth; Ma, and then Bess and the other girls, and then one by one the boys. All of them knew before Pa did; but he had to know some time. On a winter night he warmed frost-burned hands at the log fire; and Lucy, helping Ma get supper ready, passed between him and the flames and so was silhouetted there. The cabin rocked with his angry shout.
    â€œYou, Lucy! What makes your belly so big?” The brief silence was tight with terror. Then he lunged, dragged the girl to him. “By Godamighty, I’ll take the hide off’n you!”
    Ma fought between them. “Joe Hanks, you leave her be!”
    â€œI’ll skin her alive!”
    Lucy faced him, as hot with rage as he. “You tetch me and you’ll never sleep and wake up again! You ever tetch me again long as you live and I’ll take an axe to you!”
    â€œWho done it?” He still gripped her arm, till Ma pushed him clear, and Lucy defied him.
    â€œNone of your business.”
    â€œWas it that Currain young one? He come sneaking up here after you?”
    â€œI ain’t a-going to tell you a thing.”
    â€œI’ll beat it out of you.”
    â€œIt’ll be the last time you ever hit a lick at me or anyone!”
    With Ma on her side, Lucy withstood his first rage; but he began thereafter to be much away from the farm, leaving the work for the boys to do. Through that winter he was gone sometimes for days on end, till spring drew near and it would soon be plowing time and planting time. Ma nagged at him to be at the tasks that needed doing, but one day he cried:
    â€œHush up! I ain’t a-going to plant a crop for someone else to gether!”
    Ma stared at him, pale in sudden fear. “Joe Hanks, what’s got into you?”

    â€œWe’re selling out, soon’s I can find someone to buy. We’re moving on.”
    â€œOh, Joe!”
    â€œI aim to take that hedge-cat gal of ours fur enough off so her Tom can’t find her!”
    â€œWe’re doing real good here!” But Ma pleaded vainly. When at last she knew herself beaten, she fought for delay. “Well, anyway, I ain’t a-going a step till her baby comes; not till she’s fit to travel.”
    â€œWe’re going the day I sell the farm! Make up your mind to it.”
    But he could find no buyer, and in March he put parched corn and sowbelly in a poke, thrust knife and hatchet in his sash, took down his gun. Ma challenged him. “Now Pa, where you a-going?”
    â€œBack to Farnham Parish.” There, above the Rappahannock, had been their earlier home. “I’ll find someone there that wants a good farm cheap.” He brushed aside her