Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/200

 han' made 'im hungrier 'n ever, an' so he says, "How much do you want?"

An' she says, cool an' business-like, "I'll kiss you fer a thousan' dollars!"

An' he hesitated a minute, an' Betty she ran 'er han' soft like thru 'is hair, an' at thet he looked up an' smiled an' says "Tina, you was jest a foolin' me, I know," — an' tried to draw 'er face down to 'im.

But she jerked away and says " No, I mean jest what I said."

"Well, then," he says, des'prate like, —fer the fever was burnin' of 'im up an' he hed n't no more stren'th than a baby, —"kiss me, an' I'll give ye the money."

An' she says, "A bird in the han 's wuth two in the bush ; you 'll hev' to write the check fust."

An' ef you 'll b'lieve it, she went an' got 'is check book an' a pen, an' put 'er arms roun' 'im and held 'im up in bed so 's 't he could write ! An' he looked at 'er a minnit strange-like, an' then he wrote 'er out a check, his han' tremblin' so 's 't he could n't hardly hold the pen, an' gave it to 'er; an' she jest jumped up an' waved it in the air, an' says triumphant like, " Now I kin git my mournin' made up in time! "

An' then she says, "O, I forgot," an' put her head down to kiss 'im.

But he put up 'is han' sudden, an' growed pale's death, an' says, "No, I don't want it now, I can't take it that-a-way, Tina."

An' he turned 'is face to the wall, and begun cryin' softly like a little grievin' child.

My woman says ef 't would 'a' done 'im any good she could 'a' gone up an' taken 'im in 'er arms an' kissed 'im 'erself ; but of course she knowed it would n't. My woman 's thet tender-hearted thet she can't kill a chicken, but she 'lows 't would 'a' done 'er proud to 'ave ketched Betty jest then, an' twisted 'er purty white neck plumb in two. An' I don't blame 'er fer feelin' that-a-way neither.

Next mornin', when she went over he was still livin', but lyin' too weak to speak. An' thar set thet heartless critter by 'er husban's bed, workin' on mournin' bunnet ! An fer all my worm knowed Betty so well, she 'lowed si never see anything quite to ekal thet fe Simon pure gall, an' she motioned he;J to come in the other room, an' then sh< let out on 'er at las'. She Mows she 'cj 'a' hed to spoke 'er mind then, ef she '(I knowed ever' critter on the place 'd ber pizened next day, an' the house burnec down an' her with it. She axed 'er w')j she did n't git the coffin and let 'im Ikl in it a spell to see 'f 't was a good fit, an w'at more she said I don't rec'lect but w'en my woman does fine 'er tongm she kin make 's good use of it 's anyone

But do you think she could faz( Betty? Not much ! She jest laffed ir 'er face, an' said he 'd knowed all along'* he 'd got to die purty soon, an' what 'j the use o' makin' any bones of it ? Sht said she hed to set there so 's to giv 'im 'is med'cine, an' what 's the us wastin' time ? fer the doctor said couldn't possibly live over night, she hed to hev 'er things ready !

Fer a mercy, he did die thet ver arternoon. An' Betty hired a speshii car, an' invited all 'er fren's to go do\ to Portlan' in it to the f un'ral. From 'counts they hed a high time on tl way, but they say soon 's Betty gc among her tony Portlan' fren's she jes looked and acted like a heart-broke widder. Lize Green says she hopes die ef Betty did n't rub up her face wit mullein leaves to let on like she 'd bet cryin' hard. The hull thing was thel ovvdaciousest piece o' business I ever hearn tell on. Ef I wasn't knowin' to the fac's I wouldn't darst believe 'em.

Old Teeters paused to fill his pipe for his bed-time smoke.

"What became of Betty after that? And the house he built up here, is it still standing?" I asked.