Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/284

 "Merry him, Amandy," said George. He whispered in her ear. "Merry him, and you kin come and live on my raynch, and I'll leave it to you when I die."

"Three minutes wasted," said Bill.

"I'll marry you, Mr. Prentiss," said Amandy.

"Do your duty, Brother Brandram," said Bill, as he returned his watch to his pocket.

And Brandram did his duty in rather a shaky voice.

"You're now man and wife," said he when he had done.

Bill took up his parable again.

"And now, hevin' merried her, Prentiss, you kin pull out and never see her no more. For you ain't goin' to reap no advantage threw your wickedness. And Amandy, though she bears your name, will hate you evermore. Git up and git!"

"But she's my wife," said the cowboy in great surprise. "She'll kem away with me."

Bill smiled an awful smile.

"You think so; but you're off it, away off