The colonel shook his head, and said sententiously, "Watts--they hain't a blame thing in it--not a blame thing." The creaking of the treadle on Watt's bench slit the silence for a few moments, and the colonel went on: "There can be educated fools about women, Watts McHurdie, just as there are educated fools about books. There's nothing in your theory of a liberal education in women. On the contrary, in all matters relating to and touching on affairs of the heart--beware of the man with one wife." McHurdie flashed his yellow-toothed smile upon his friend and replied, "Or less than one?" "No, sir, just one," answered Colonel Culpepper. "A man with a raft of wives, first and last, is like a fellow with good luck--the Lord never gives him anything else. And I may say in point of fact, that the man with no wife is like a man with bad luck--the Lord never gives him anything else, either!" The colonel slapped his right hand on his knee and exclaimed: "Watts McHurdie--what's the matter with you, man? Don't you see Nellie's all ready and waitin'--just fairly honin', and longin', I may say, for a home and a place to begin to live?" McHurdie gave his treadle a jam and swayed forward over his work and answered, "Marry in haste--repent at leisure." But nevertheless that night Watts sat with Nellie Logan on the front porch of the Wards' house, watching the rising harvest moon, while Mrs. Ward, inside, was singing to her baby. Nellie Logan roomed with the Wards, and was bookkeeper in Dorman's store. It was nearly ten o'clock and the man rose to go. "Well," he said, and hesitated a moment, "well, Nellie, I suppose you're still waiting?" It was a question rather than an assertion. The woman put her hands gently on the man's arms and sighed. "I just can't--not yet, Watts." "Well, I thought maybe you'd changed your mind." He smiled as he continued, "You know they say women do change sometimes." She looked down at him sadly. "Yes, I know they do, but some way I don't." There was a long pause while Watts screwed up his courage to say, "Still kind of thinking about that preacher?" The woman had no animation in her voice as she replied, "You know that by now--without asking."