"Yes," sez he, "your grand-daughter, is she not?" "My grand-daughter!" sez I in deep contempt, "she is my own cousin on my own side." "I thought," sez he, "from her looks and yours that she might be your grand-child, but that is of no moment," sez he. "It is of moment!" sez I, "she is uncle Leander Smith's own child, and though she is a few years younger than I be, it has always been said and thought all over Jonesville and Loontown that I hold my age to a remarkable extent. And though I think my eyes of Faith I won't thank you or anyone else for callin' her my grand-child!" "But yet," sez he, "that's a tender, sweet relationship. What I want to say to you is in relation to Miss Smith, she looks sad but beauchious. I like her looks. You may have noticed that I have occasionally glanced in the direction of your party." "Yes," sez I, "Heaven knows I have noticed it!" "Yes," sez he, "as I have looked upon her face from day to day a conflict has been wagin' in my heart, and though you may be surprised at the result (for I am very wealthy) I have decided to make her glad and joyous once more." He paused, as if for a reply, and I sez, "How did you mean to tackle the job?" "By makin' her my wife," sez he. The mystery wuz all explained, my dignity and my beloved pardner's safety all assured. I felt a feeling of infinite relief, and yet I felt like a fool, and I blamed him severely for this ridiculous _contrary temps_ that had occurred in my mind. "Of course," sez he, "it is a great rise for her, I have hearn that she hain't worth much, as I count wealth, and as we are speakin' in confidence, I will say that there is a rich widder here who has hopes of me, and mebby I've gin her some encouragement, kinder accidental, as you may say, but I ort to know better. Widdowers can't be too careful; they do great harm, let 'em be as careful as possible. They tromple right and left over wimmen's hearts do the best they can. But since I have seen Miss Smith and witnessed her sad face I have done a sight of thinkin'. Here the case lays, the widder is strong, she can stand trouble better. The widder is happy, for she has got that which will make any woman happy--health, wealth, and property. And I've been turnin' it over in my mind that mebby Duty is drawin' me away from the widder and towards the maid. It hain't because the widder is homely as the old Harry that influences me, no not at all. But the thought of lightenin' the burden of the sad and down hearted, makin' the mournful eyes dance with ecstasy, and the skrinkin' form bound with joy like--like--the boundin' row on the hill tops. Now as the case stands marry I will and must. My wife has already been lost for a period of three months lackin' three weeks. She sweetly passed away murmurin', 'I am glad to go.'" "No wonder at that!" I sez, "no wonder!"