“Marry him, Mace,” he says, “and try to nuss him back t’ health again.”

I was plumb amazed. “Marry!” I says.

But ’fore I could git any more out, Mike shut off my wind!

Dear little gal! She wasn’t skittish no more: She was so tame she’d ’a’ et right outen my hand. “Parson,” she says, goin’ towards him, “will–will you marry Alec and me–now?”

“Dee-lighted,” says the parson, “–if he is able t’ go through the ceremony.”

“Parson,” I begun, pullin’ my face loose, “I want––”

Mike give me a dig.

I looked at him.

He wunk–hard.

And then, I tumbled!