"I require an' charge ye both, as ye will answer at ther dreadful day of jedgment—" the holy words were still illusive and memory tricky—"thet ef either one of ye knows any—any—cause why ye kain't rightfully be j'ined tergither in matrimony ... ye do now confess hit."
The pause which ensued lay upon the small company with oppressive weight. Joe Sanders coughed and nervously cleared his throat.
"Wilt thou have this-hyar woman fer thy wedded wife? Wilt thou love her, comfort her an' keep her in sickness an' in health?"
For a moment there was dead and unresponsive silence. A cold fear smote upon them all that death had intervened. Then Bear Cat, bringing his eyes back from their fixity, bent abruptly; so abruptly that his movement seemed a thing of violent threat.
"Don't ye hear?" he demanded in a strained whisper. "Speak whilst thar's breath left. Say 'I will.' Say hit speedily!"
Recalled by that sharp challenge out of his sinking consciousness, Jerry Henderson stirred and murmured faintly, "I will."
"Wilt thou have this-hyar man fer thy wedded husband ter serve, honor an' obey——"
But before the interrogation came to its period Blossom Fulkerson broke in with a prideful and willing avowal, "I will! I will!"
Turner Stacy felt icy moisture on his temples. His world seemed rocking as he stood straight again with wooden immobility.
"I pronounces ye man an' wife."