The young farmer walked home desolate, comparing in his simple mind his
own plain exterior with his rival's gorgeous toilet, his awkward address
with the other's easy audacity, till his heart was full to the brim with
that infernal compound of love and hate which is called jealousy, from
which pray Heaven to guard you.
It was the next morning that Miss Susie vaulted over the fence where Allen
Golyer was digging the hole for Colonel Blood's apple tree.
"Something middlin' particular," continued Golyer, resolutely.
"There is no use leaving your work," said Miss Barringer pluckily. "I will
stay and listen."
Poor Allen began as badly as possible: "Who was that feller with you
yesterday?"
"Thank you, Mr. Golyer--my friends ain't fellers! What's that to you, who
he was?"
"Susie Barringer, we have been keeping company now a matter of a year. I
have loved you well and true: I would have give my life to save you any
little care or trouble. I never dreamed of nobody but you--not that I was
half good enough for you, but because I did not know any better man around
here. Ef it ain't too late, Susie, I ask you to be my wife. I will love
you and care for you, good and true."
Before this solemn little speech was finished, Susie was crying and biting
her bonnet-strings in a most undignified manner.
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