"I know we'd ought to have told you, but 'twas only Tuesday the Major asked me, and we thought we'd keep it a secret so's to s'prise you.

Mr.Langworthy over to Orham married us, and--" "My dear," her husband blandly interrupted, "we will not intrude our private affairs upon the patience of these good friends.

And now, gentlemen, let me propose a toast: To the health and happiness of the mistress of 'Silverleaf Hall'! Brother Obed, I--" The outside door closed with a slam; "Brother Obed" had fled.
A little later, when the rest of the former creditors of the Major came out into the moonlight, they found their companion standing by the gate gazing stonily into vacancy.

"Hen" Leadbetter, who, with Higgins, brought up the rear of the procession, said reflectively: "When he fust fetched out that stack of money I couldn't scarcely b'lieve my eyes.

I begun to think that we fellers had put our foot in it for sartin, and had lost a mighty good customer; but, of course, it's all plain enough NOW." "Yes," remarked Weeks with a nod; "I allers heard that P'lena kept a mighty good balance in the bank." "It looks to me," said Higgins slyly, "as if we owed Obed here a vote of thanks.