“That depends,” says I. “If you act with sense and dont git mad, you can have your say. If you flare up Ile silence you, sir.” “Are you mad, Betsy?” says he, cowed like. “No, Ime not mad. Ime in airnest,” says I, takin up the cakes and settin them on the table. Then I sot down in a chair in front of Jobe, still holdin the dipper. Says I: “Now, Jobe, who is agent for a iron bridge company in this county but a Republican county commissioner? “Who went over into a adjoining county and offered to sell a iron bridge for several dollars per foot less than he charged his own county for the same kind of a bridge? Who done this but a Republican county commissioner? “Who let a contract for stone butments for one of the leadin bridges in this county, and then let them put in iron tubes instid of stone butments? Who done this but a Republican county commissioner? “Who sold the Trenton bridge out in three sections at $999.99 a section, so as to evade the law that says all public contracts for $1,000 or more shall be advertised and sold to the lowest bidder? Who done this sellin but a Republican county commissioner? “Who gits a commission on all the bridges the taxpayers are a payin for, but a Republican county commissioner? “Who has tore down good bridges jist to git to sell a new bridge to this county, but a Republican county commissioner? “Who is it but Republican county commissioners that dont care how high taxes are so they git their commission for sellin bridges? [Illustration: “‘Are you mad, Betsy?’ says he.”] “Who but a Republican county commissioner refused to allow the expense necessary to collect the $65,000 back taxes, Beriar Wilk——?” “Hold! Hold!” cried Jobe, jumpin to his feet. “Wilkins was a Dimicrat! Wilkins was a Dimicrat! A leadin Dimicrat, and you know it! And more, Betsy Gaskins, when you say that nobody was mixed up in that bridge bizness but a Republican county commissioner, you _lie_, and——” I dident let him finish. I couldent. I was teched. I jist grabbed the mop-stick that was standin near, and struck at him with all my might as he went out at the door. I follered him clear to the fence, strikin at him as he went; and jist as he was crossin the fence I broke that mop-stick (that cost me thirteen cents) on them election patches. So my heart is heavier than it has been since I become the lawful wife of Jobe Gaskins. The idea of him a tellin me that I _lie_, this late in our lives! It is awful! It teched me to the quick! Well, Jobe Gaskins got no breakfast that day, and I was so worked up that I couldent eat much. That nite Jobe slept in the barn agin, comin in some time between dark and daylite to get what vittles was cooked. He stayed out around the barn for three days and nites, only comin in arter I had gone to bed, to git what he needed to eat. I dont know how long he would have kept it up if it hadent got cold Thursday arternoon and evenin. That evenin he froze out, and came up to the fence and hollered: