With a sigh Jinnie allowed Lafe to buckle the shortwood strap to her shoulder. Oh, how many days she had gone through a similar operation with a similar little sigh!
It was a trying ordeal, that of collecting and selling kindling wood, for the men of Paradise Road took the best of the shortwood to be found in the nearer swamp and marsh lands, and oftentimes it was nearly noon before the girl would begin her sale.
But the one real happiness of her days lay in dropping the pennies she earned into Peg's hand.
Now Peggy didn't believe in spoiling men or children, but one morning, as she tied a scarf about Jinnie's neck, she arranged the black curls with more than usual tenderness.
Pausing at the door and looking back at the woman, Jinnie suddenly threw up her head in determination.
"I love you, Peggy," she said, drawing in a long breath. "Give me a little kiss, will you?"
There! The cat was out of the bag. In another instant Jinnie would know her fate. How she dared to ask such a thing the girl could never afterwards tell.
If Peg kissed her, work would be easy. If she denied her----Peggy glanced at her, then away again, her eyes shifting uneasily.
But after once taking a stand, Jinnie held her ground. Her mouth was pursed up as if she was going to whistle. Would Peg refuse such a little request? Evidently Peggy would, for she scoffingly ordered.
"Go along with you, kid--go long, you flip little brat!"
"I'd like a kiss awful much," repeated Jinnie, still standing. Her voice was low-toned and pleading, her blue eyes questioningly on Peg's face.
Peg shook her head.
"I won't kiss you 'cause I hate you," she sniffed. "I've always hated you."
Jinnie's eyes filled with tears.
"I know it," she replied sadly, "I know it, but I'd like a kiss just the same because--because I do love you, Peg."
A bit of the same sentiment that had worried her for over a year now attacked Mrs. Grandoken. Her common sense told her to dash away to the kitchen, but a tugging in her breast kept her anchored to the spot. Suddenly, without a word, she snatched the girl close to her broad breast and pressed her lips on Jinnie's with resounding smacks.
"There! There! And there!" she cried, between the kisses. "An' if y' ever tell a soul I done it, I'll scrape every inch of skin off'n your flesh, an' mebbe I'll do something worse, I hate y' that bad."
In less seconds than it takes to tell it, Peg let Jinnie go, and the girl went out of the door with a smiling sigh.