"It would have done no good," she sobbed. "Oh, why--why won't
you leave me alone?"
"It would have done all the good in the world. What right had he
to send you back to this?"
"I had every right," said Strong, stubbornly.
"What?" cried Douglas.
"It was my duty."
"Your duty? Your narrow-minded bigotry!"
"I don't allow no man to talk to me like that, not even my
parson."
"I'm NOT your parson any longer," declared Douglas. He faced
Strong squarely. He was master of his own affairs at last.
Polly clung to him, begging and beseeching.
"Oh, Mr. John! Mr. John!"
"What do you mean by that?" shouted Strong.
"I mean that I stayed with you and your narrow- minded
congregation before, because I believed you needed me. But now
this girl needs me more. She needs me to protect her from just
such injustice as yours."
"You'd better be protectin' YOURSELF. That's my advice to you."
"I can do that WITHOUT your advice."
"Maybe you can find another church with that circus ridin' girl
a-hangin' 'round your neck."
"He's right," cried Polly. "You couldn't." She clung to the
pastor in terrified entreaty. "You COULDN'T get another church.
They'd never, never forgive you. It's no use. You've got to let
me go! you've GOT to!"
"Listen, Polly.
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