“Yes, John, I do love you,” Jess slowly replied.  “I love you more than words can tell.  But we must wait a while.  I am a runaway girl, you know, and I must not bring disgrace upon your family.”

“Disgrace!  I do not understand you.  How could you bring disgrace upon mother and me?”

Jess smiled as she gently freed her hand, and plucked a leaf from the branch of a small tree.  This she twirled in her fingers, and then tore it into bits, dropping each piece separately upon the ground.

“There is my answer,” she said, in a voice that was low but full of emotion.  “What I have done to that innocent leaf people will do to me when they find out what I have done.  They will not spare me any more than I have spared that leaf.  They will take my life and rend it asunder bit by bit.  They will hear about my experiences on the ’Eb and Flo’; that a mishap befell me at the quarry; that I was taken away in the dead of night, and kept hidden by a young man so that my parents could not find me.  I know what construction they will put upon all this, and no matter how much I might explain it will make no difference.  I will be looked upon as a girl who has gone astray, and will be held in contempt by all.  Oh, I know how it will be, for I remember how people talked about a girl who did something not half so daring as mine, and she was never forgiven.  Her character was torn into shreds by cruel tongues.”

“But what has all this to do with our love?” John asked.  “I don’t care what people say.  In fact, I will face the whole world, and if I hear anyone breathe a word against you it won’t be well for him.”

“I know you would do what you could, John, but not likely you would ever have the chance.  What could you do against the many conversations where my name and deed will be introduced.  And in what a subtle manner judgment will be pronounced, ‘Poor girl; isn’t it too bad?’ ’How hard on her parents!’ That is the way most people will refer to me, though some will express their views in no uncertain language.  I have heard it before, and know just what to expect.”

“But, Jess, why need we care what they say?” John insisted.  “We can be happy together.  Our love will make up for everything else.”

“Yes, I know that, John.  But until this storm blows over, and I am condemned and forgotten it is better for us to remain just as we are.  I must get away from here and do something.”

“You’re not going to leave, Jess.  You must stay right here.”

But the girl shook her head.  Her face was very serious, and her eyes shone with the light of determination.

“I must go, John,” she said.  “Should my father find me here, he will make my life unbearable.  He will try to force me to go back, and the only way to prevent that would be for me to do what people think I have already done.”  A tremour shook her body, and her eyes grew big with a nameless fear.