To make you and your sweetheart one, a priest, or Protestant clergyman, will be needed; and neither can be had very conveniently here, in the centre of the Staked Plain." "Durn both sorts!" exclaims the ex-Ranger in a tone of chagrin.

"Ef't warn't for the need o' 'em jest now, I say the Staked Plain air better 'ithout 'em, as wu'd anywars else.

Why can't she an' me be tied thegither 'ithout any sech senseless saramony?
Walt Wilder wants no mumblin' o' prayers at splicin' him to the gurl he's choosed for his partner.

An' why shed thar be, supposin' we both gie our mutooal promises one to the tother ?" "True.

But that would not be marriage such as would lawfully and legally make you man and wife." "Doggone the lawfulness or legullity o' it! Priest or no priest, I want Concheteter for my squaw; an' I've made up my mind to hev her.