After a few unimportant remarks, Mrs. Hall asked if the rape case was over yet. Mr. Brown said the jury was still out.

“Well,” said Mrs. Hall, “I'll tell you what I think of the matter. There was no rape about it. Hay was getting all he wanted of the girl and her mother found it out and she put up the job on him.”

Mr. Brown asked why she thought so.

“Why,” said she, “if the girl hadn't been willing, she wouldn't have gone back home with Hay and stayed a week or two before making any fuss about it.”

Another time they talked about married women taking measures to avoid getting in the family way. They spoke of it as if it could be prevented, but they didn't say how. I was anxious to hear that but was doomed to disappointment.

This last conversation I heard just after Abner was with us in the barn. The next time I saw the girls, I told them what I had heard. Julia said she was sure there was some way it could be done but she was at a loss to know how to ascertain it. Lizzie asked me why I didn't ask Mrs. Hall.

“I'd rather ask Mr. Brown,” said I, dubiously.

“Oh, that's it,” said Julia. “Ask Mr. Brown then,” and Lizzie joined her in urging me to ask Mr. Brown. Both said they would if they had a chance.

Every time I saw Mr. Brown after that I thought of the request I wanted to make and feared I'd not have courage even if I got a chance. Then one day Mr. and Mrs. Hall went to town for the whole day. I was all excited at once.

Mr. Brown knocked and when I opened the door he came in and enquired for Mrs. Hall. It came into my mind at once that if I told him she was going to be gone all day he would go right away, so I said, “She is out just now. Won't you sit down and wait?” So he sat down and soon picked up a paper and began to read. I was anxious to ask him, yet was afraid. I kept near him, and when he laid the paper down I was afraid he was going. Without stopping to choose my words, I blurted out, “Mr. Brown, won't you tell me how to keep from getting in the family way?”