Once Jeff had to go away to another town to see a sick man.  “When I come back Monday Melanctha, I come Monday evening to see you.  You be home alone once Melanctha to see me.”  “Sure Jeff, I be glad to see you!”

When Jeff Campbell came to his house on Monday there was a note there from Melanctha.  Could Jeff come day after to-morrow, Wednesday?  Melanctha was so sorry she had to go out that evening.  She was awful sorry and she hoped Jeff would not be angry.

Jeff was angry and he swore a little, and then he laughed, and then he sighed.  “Poor Melanctha, she don’t know any way to be real honest, but no matter, I sure do love her and I be good if only she will let me.”

Jeff Campbell went Wednesday night to see Melanctha.  Jeff Campbell took her in his arms and kissed her.  “I certainly am awful sorry not to see you Jeff Monday, the way I promised, but I just couldn’t Jeff, no way I could fix it.”  Jeff looked at her and then he laughed a little at her.  “You want me to believe that really now Melanctha.  All right I believe it if you want me to Melanctha.  I certainly be good to you to-night the way you like it.  I believe you certainly did want to see me Melanctha, and there was no way you could fix it.”  “Oh Jeff dear,” said Melanctha, “I sure was wrong to act so to you.  It’s awful hard for me ever to say it to you, I have been wrong in my acting to you, but I certainly was bad this time Jeff to you.  It do certainly come hard to me to say it Jeff, but I certainly was wrong to go away from you the way I did it.  Only you always certainly been so bad Jeff, and such a bother to me, and making everything always so hard for me, and I certainly got some way to do it to make it come back sometimes to you.  You bad boy Jeff, now you hear me, and this certainly is the first time Jeff I ever yet said it to anybody, I ever been wrong, Jeff, you hear me!” “All right Melanctha, I sure do forgive you, cause it’s certainly the first time I ever heard you say you ever did anything wrong the way you shouldn’t,” and Jeff Campbell laughed and kissed her, and Melanctha laughed and loved him, and they really were happy now for a little time together.

And now they were very happy in each other and then they were silent and then they became a little sadder and then they were very quiet once more with each other.

“Yes I certainly do love you Jeff!” Melanctha said and she was very dreamy.  “Sure, Melanctha.”  “Yes Jeff sure, but not the way you are now ever thinking.  I love you more and more seems to me Jeff always, and I certainly do trust you more and more always to me when I know you.  I do love you Jeff, sure yes, but not the kind of way of loving you are ever thinking it now Jeff with me.  I ain’t got certainly no hot passion any more now in me.  You certainly have killed all that kind of feeling now Jeff in me.  You certainly do know that Jeff, now the way I am always, when I am loving with you.  You certainly do know that Jeff, and that’s the way you certainly do like it now in me.  You certainly don’t mind now Jeff, to hear me say this to you.”