nothin', 'cause right along about then I begin to notice 'at Marthy quit comin' home so much, and Morris kep' a-comin' more. "Tel finally, one time he was out here all by hisself, 'long about dusk, come out here where I was feedin', and ast me, all at onct, and in a straightfor'ard way, ef he couldn't marry Annie; and, some-way-another, blame' ef it didn't make me happy as him when I told him yes! You see that thing proved, pine-blank, 'at he wasn't a-fishin' round fer Marthy. Well-sir, as luck would hev it, Marthy got home about a half-hour later, and I'll give you my word I was never so glad to see the girl in my life! It was foolish in me, I reckon, but when I see her drivin' up the lane-- it was purt' nigh dark then, but I could see her through the open winder from where I was sittin' at the supper-table, and so I jest quietly excused myself, p'lite-like, as a feller will, you know, when they's comp'ny round, and slipped off and met her jest as she was about to git out to open the barn gate. 'Hold up, Marthy,' says I; 'set right where you air; I'll open the gate fer you, and I'll do anything else fer you in the world 'at you want me to!' " 'W'y, what's pleased YOU so?' she says, laughin', as she druv through slow-like and a-ticklin' my nose with the cracker of the buggy-whip.--'What's pleased YOU?' " 'Guess,' says I, jerkin' the gate to, and turnin' to lift her out. " 'The new peanner's come?' says she, eager-like. " 'Yer new peanner's come,' says I, 'but that's not it.' " 'Strawberries for supper?' says she. " 'Strawberries fer supper,' says I; 'but that ain't it.' "Jest then Morris's hoss whinnied in the barn, and she glanced up quick and smilin' and says, 'Somebody come to see somebody?' " 'You're a-gittin' warm,' says I. " 'Somebody come to see ME?' she says, anxious-like. " 'No,' says I, 'and I'm glad of it--fer this one 'at's come wants to git married, and o' course I wouldn't harber in my house no young feller 'at was a-layin' round fer a chance to steal away the "Nest-egg," ' says I, laughin'. "Marthy had riz up in the buggy by this time, but as I helt up my hands to her, she sort o' drawed back a minute, and says, all serious-like and kind o' whisperin': " 'Is it ANNIE?' "I nodded. 'Yes,' says I, 'and what's more, I've give my consent, and mother's give hern--the thing's all settled. Come, jump out and run in and be happy with the rest of us!' and I helt out my hands ag'in, but she didn't 'pear to take no heed. She was kind o' pale, too, I thought, and swallered a time er two like as ef she couldn't speak plain. " 'Who is the man?' she ast. " 'Who--who's the man,' I says, a-gittin' kind o' out o' patience with the girl.--'W'y, you know who it is, o' course.--It's Morris,' says I. 'Come, jump down! Don't you see I'm waitin' fer ye?'