human
I done my damnedest ter kill ye, an' now yo' ... yo' saves Lou's life fer me. I reckon I don't know how ter thank ye, er repay ... but ... my life air yourn ter take hit, ef yo' likes.
gpt
Nonsense, was the sharp response.
human
And as for thanks, why I don't want any. I did it for Smiles' sake.
gpt
Yes, I reckoned so. Yo' hev the right ter do things fer her, an' I ... I haint. She ... she warnt fer me ... never. I warnt never worthy uv her.
human
She isn't for me, either, said Donald.
gpt
And besides, I'm no more worthy of her than you, Judd. I should have told you long ago--I was a fool not to have done so--I'm going to marry another girl,--a girl at home whom I have known all my life.
human
Do Rose know hit?
gpt
Of course she does; she's known it for a year. Judd ... he seated himself beside the younger man.
human
I want to tell you that I was altogether to blame for ... for what happened up there last summer. I should have told you then, and ... and I'm sorry.
gpt
No, hit war I who war ter blame.
human
Well, let's both try to forget it, now. You owe me nothing for to-night; but you owe Rose a debt of gratitude that you can never hope to pay in full, my boy.
gpt
I knows hit. I kaint never pay even part uv hit.
human
I think that you can.
gpt
How kin I?
human
I don't pretend to be much of a preacher, but I can say this as a man, Judd. By trying to live the kind of a life she would have you live. She wants to be your friend.
gpt
I haint fit ter be named friend uv her'n, after what I done,
human
But _we're_ going to forget all about that, and certainly she won't hold it against you, lad. I heard your Mr. Talmadge talking about ... about religious things, once, and I think that, if he were here now, he would tell you that Smiles and little Lou, together, have made what ... what the Bible calls 'atonement' for what ... for what you did. Smiles' love and your baby sister's suffering have brought us together; each has had a chance to realize and confess that he was wrong and had been wicked; and now the way is clear for us to be ... friends. At least I'm willing, if you are, to shake on that.