That moment was the last of real strength and dignity ever shown by Joel Creech.
"But, Joel, I can't marry you--even if I am to blame for your ruin," said Lucy, simply.
"Why ?" "Because I don't love you." "I reckon thet won't make any difference, if you don't love some one else." Lucy gazed blankly at him.

He began to shake, and his eyes grew wild.
She rose from the log.
"Do you love anybody else ?" he asked, passionately.
"None of your business!" retorted Lucy.

Then, at a strange darkening of his face, an aspect unfamiliar to her, she grew suddenly frightened.
"It's Van!" he said, thickly.
"Joel, you're a fool!" That only infuriated him.
"So they all say.

An' they got my old man believin' it, too.

Mebbe I am....