Mercy! Was that what education and going to college did for folks?

The light of a single unshaded electric bulb shone startlingly down to
the bed, making plain the shadow of death even to an inexperienced eye.

Marilyn knelt beside the bed and took Cherry's cold little hand in her
own warm one. The waxen eyelids fluttered open, and a dart of something
between fright and pain went over her weird little face.

"Can I do anything for you Cherry?" Marilyn's voice was tender,
pitiful.

"It's too late," whispered the girl in a fierce little whisper,
"Send 'em out--I--wantta--tell--you--someth--!" The voice trailed away
weakly. The doctor stepped over and gave her a spoonful of something,
motioned her mother and the neighbor away, tiptoeing out himself and
closing the door. The mother was sobbing wildly. The doctor's voice
could be heard quieting her coldly: The girl on the bed frowned and gathered effort to speak: "Mark Carter--didn't mean no harm--goin'--with me--!" she broke out,
her breath coming in gasps, "He was tryin'--to stop me--goin'--with--
Dolph--!" The eyes closed wearily. The lips were white as chalk.
She seemed to have stopped breathing!

"It's all right--Cherry--" Marilyn breathed softly, "It's all right--I
understand! Don't think any more about it!"

The eyes opened fiercely again, a faint determination shadowed round
the little mouth: "You gotta know--!" she broke forth again with effort. "He was good to
me--when I was a little kid, and when he found I was in trouble--" the
breath came pitifully in gasps--"he--offered--to--marry me!"