As the door opened, Cephas, taking his last chance,
went forward to meet Patty, who was turning down the skirt of her
dress, taking the cloth off her head, smoothing her hair, and
tying on a clean white ruffed apron, in which she looked as
pretty as a pink.
"Patty! "stammered Cephas, seizing his golden opportunity,
"Patty, keep your mind on me for a minute. I've put a new coat o'
paint on the ell just to please you; won't you get married and
settle down with me? I love you so I can't eat nor drink nor
'tend store nor nothin'!"
"Oh, I--I--couldn't, Cephas, thank you; I just couldn't,--don't
ask me," cried Patty, as nervous as Cephas himself now that her
first offer had really come; "I'm only seventeen and I don't feel
like settling down, Cephas, and father wouldn't think of letting
me get married."
"Don't play tricks on me, Patty, and keep shovin' me off so, an'
givin' wrong reasons," pleaded Cephas. "What's the trouble with
me? I know mother's temper's onsartain, but we never need go into
the main house daytimes and father'd allers stand up ag'in' her
if she didn't treat you right. I've got a good trade and father
has a hundred dollars o' my savin's that I can draw out to-morrer
if you'll have me.
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