He had left it in the office, and had lit that lantern and wuz now hangin’ along in the rear of that gay procession, with that mummy-like figger, a jest, a byword and a sneer, for laughter riz up round ’em and sneers follered ’em as they swep’ onwards. As they come nigh me I riz up almost wildly and ketched holt of my pardner and sez I:
“Desist! Josiah Allen, stop to once!”
The aged female looked at me in surprise and feeble remonstrance, and sez she:
“Can it be that you’re jealous?”
“As they come nigh me I riz up almost wildly and ketched holt of my pardner and sez I: ‘Desist! Josiah Allen, stop to once!’ The aged female looked at me in surprise.” (See page 131)
Even in that awful moment my powers of deep reasonin’ didn’t desert me and I said: