Harold Dokesbury knew that unless he could
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What do you say to a turn down the streetwith me?” he asked as he rose from breakfast. ’Lias shook his head. “What! You haven’t deserted me already?” The older people had gone out, but youngGray looked furtively about before he replied:“You know I ain’t fittin’ to go out with you —aftah —aftah — yestiddy.” A dozen appropriate texts rose in thepreacher’s mind, but he knew that it was nota preaching time, so he contented himself withsaying, — “« Oh, get out! Come along!” “No, I cain’t. I cain’t. I wisht I could!You need n’t think I’s ashamed, ’cause I ain’t.Plenty of ’em git drunk, an’ I don’t keer nothin’*bout dat ”? — this in a defiant tone. “ Well, why not come along, then?” “JT tell you I cain’t. Don’t ax me no mo’,It ain’t on my account I won’t go. It’s you.” “Me! Why, I want you to go.” 58
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