"'Yes,' said she, 'I remember you well. You are Tommy Linken. What has brought you back to Kentuck'?'
"'Well, Sally,' said I, 'my wife is dead.'
"'Is that so,' said she, all attention.
"'Yes; wife died more than a year ago, and a good wife she was; and I've just come back to look for another.'
"She sat like a statue, Sally did, and never spoke a word. So I said:
"'Do you like me, Sally Johnson?'
"'Yes, Tommy Linken.'
"'You do?'
"'Yes, Tommy Linken, I like you well enough to marry you, but I could never think of such a thing—at least not now.'
"'Why?'