“Oh, I knew yew’d be surprised,” said the fellow, arrogantly. “’Tain’t every respecterble man thet ud want ye, Dollie, but I’m willin’ ter take ye an’ dew what’s right by ye. Yew see, I’ve got a five hundred dollar mor’gige on yer father’s farm that’ll fall due in Janooary, an’ if yew’ll marry me, Dollie, I’ll give him ther paper; but ef yew won’t——”
“What, then?” asked Dollie, trembling.
“Then I’ll foreclose on him an’ turn em out,” was the decided answer. “It’s yew or the money, an’ the deacon ain’t got no money.”
CHAPTER V.
A SAD PARTING OF FRIENDS.
When Dollie burst into the little room she was breathless with excitement and indignation. Much to her surprise, she found Marion there before her.
“Oh, sister!” she blurted out, “Silas Johnson is here! And what do you think! he still wants me to marry him!”
Marion stared at her in genuine astonishment. “What! Silas here in the city, and you have seen him, Dollie?”
“I met him in this very block just as I was coming home,” said Dollie, pulling off her gloves, “and, oh, of all the awkward-looking gawks! I never realized before that Silas was so homely!”