"Thank you; but what business can you have with me at this time of night?" "Mighty 'portant bizness, Brother Mayberry, mighty 'portant." "Does it concern your soul?" "Not ez much ez it do yourn, Brother Mayberry; not nigh so much ez it do yourn." "I don't understand you!" the evangelist exclaimed. "But I'll see that you do, Brother Mayberry. I reckon you've noticed me at church, hai'nt you?" "Yes." "Well, whut you reckon I went thar fur?" "To hear the gospel, I suppose." "Not much, Brother Mayberry; not much. I went thar to see you." "To see me! Why on earth, madam, do you care to see me?" "Would ruther see you on earth, Brother Mayberry, than anywhar else. I went to see you, Brother Mayberry, because I love you." "Merciful heavens!" exclaimed the evangelist, throwing up his hands in a gesture of horror. "Yes, Brother Mayberry, I love you, and I want you to be my husband." "Oh, God forbid!" the disgusted preacher groaned. "Yes, Brother Mayberry, but the Lawd hain't forbid. Let me tell you one thing: when old Tildy sets her head, w'y suthin' is goin' ter happen. Does folks cross old Tildy? Yes, sometimes. Did old Patterson cross Tildy? Yes, Patterson crossed po', old, harmless Tildy. Whut did Tildy do? She grabbed Patterson's boy an' hil him under the water till he was drounded. Did Martin cross old Tildy? Yes, Martin crossed old Tildy. What did old Tildy do? She met old Martin in the woods an' killed him, an' folks thought he killed hisse'f. Now, air you, in the bloom o' yo' youth and beauty, goin' to cross po', old, harmless Tildy?" The cold dew of horror gathered in beads on the preacher's brow. "Madam," said he, "I cannot marry you. Your request is preposterous; your presence is appalling. Go away." "Not until I lead my husband with me, Brother Mayberry." "Go, I tell you, or I will throw you out of the house." "Throw po', old, harmless Tildy out of the house? Ha, ha! Brother Mayberry!" She took a horse-pistol from under her apron. "Buckshot in this, Brother Mayberry; ha, buckshot." The preacher sank down on a chair. He did not care to die. In life there was such a bright promise of the good he could accomplish. He could not marry the hag, but there she stood with her awful weapon. Could he not rush upon her? "No, you can't, Brother Mayberry," she said, lifting the pistol. She was reading his thoughts. Could he not pretend that he would marry her, and afterward make his escape? "No, you can't, Brother Mayberry," she said. "The jestice uv the peace is waitin' outside with the license. Oh, no, Brother Mayberry, I'll not give you a chance ter run away. Wouldn't it be awful fur the people ter come here ter-morrer an' find Brother Mayberry with a hole through his beautiful head? Must I call the jestice uv the peace, ur shoot you?" "Merciful heavens, what is to become of me? I cannot die this way." "Yes you can, Brother Mayberry." "Oh, I cannot marry this hag."