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 them warm, and coal-oil for the lamp," pursued Texas, his smile broadening until a little glint of his marvelously white teeth could be seen.

"Yes, and if he had a pair of eyes like Sallie McCoy's aside of him he'd have a light to cheer him through the darkest night that ever set, and he'd have a fire in her heart that'd warm him if death was a standin' over agin the wall. Tell me!"

"He would, sir," said Texas, very softly, his eyes fixed as one who saw a vision," he would so, as sure as you're born!"

"Then why in the dickens don't you take her?"

"Why, she wouldn't have me, sir—she wouldn't begin to have me!"

Texas reduced himself, and emphasized his unworthiness so sharply that he seemed nothing but a point.

"How do you know?"

"She's a noblewoman, sir, one of the Almighty's royalty! The ground she walks on—"

"Is like any other ground—muddy or dry, 'cordin' to the weather. All you got to do, Texas, is spraddle out and throw a ham into it, like you're able if you set your jaw to a thing. Take a holt of something in this town that'll make you money—you don't have to wait till you get a gripsack full of it to ask Sallie to have you; she's the kind that'd be a help to any man."