“Do yo’ b’lieve it, Jim, I wus perspirin’ wus’n ther buckskin stallion did when yo’got thro’ with him that fust mornin’, and was tremblin’ like a sick gal.

“She looked down compassionate like, got white about ther lips, ’nd her voice shook er little as she sed: 

“’I can’t do that, Mr. Jordan; there’s much that I cannot tell, why I cannot, no matter; but I thank you with all my heart and soul, not only for your kindness to me, but for this last most generous offer.’

“Then she went on and talked, and cud yo’ ‘av hearn her, it would ha’ made yo’ think she war the prettiest and sweetest, and most compassionate woman as ever a-come ter bless ther world.  She seemed ter me like a fur off priestess ministerin’ to a sinner.

“After awhile I said: 

“‘Mrs. Hazelton, o’ course yo’ is pore, or yo’ wouldn’t a-come down yere a-teachin’ school among these barbarians; thet is, pore ez fur ez money goes.  I’ve been lucky.  I’ve $4,000 in ther bank which I’ve no need of.  If you’ll let me give you thet, no one’d ever know it, and the reckerlection uv it, ‘nd ther thot thet it may be doin’ yo’ some good’ll give me heaps more pleasure than keepin’ of it would.’

“You see, Jim, I war fur gone.  But she wouldn’t hev it, tho’ ther tears jumped ter her eyes when I offered it, and she remarked she b’lieved I war the best man in ther world.  I told her if she ever needed a friend and didn’t send fer me, I should feel slighted.

“Then I hitched up and druv her down ter the station.  She sat side o’ me, Jim—­waiter, more brandy—­in course.  Lookin’ down, I cud see her smooth cheek and clear-cut profile, and thinkin’ I war takin’ my last looks, thar was sich a feelin’ of all-goneativeness cum over me thet, do yo’ know, if I cud ha’ got outer one side, I b’lieve I would a-bawled like er hungry calf.

“We shook hands at ther station, and, not mindin’ ther crowd, she reached up both her arms, put ’em around my neck, drew my head down ’nd kissed me squar on the mouth.

“It perty nigh smothered me, and I said in a low voice:  ’Mrs. Hazleton, let me give yer ther money.  I positively has no use in the world fur it.’

“She give me a sad smile, shook her head and jumped on ther train.  As it pulled out uv ther station she nodded, wavin’ her hankerchiv ’nd dropped it axidently.  I picked it up.  I’ve got it till yet.  I’ll allers hev it.

“Thet war ther end.  Bolus wouldn’t eat fur three days, then he cut me dead and went off ter a neighbor’s whar ther war a white woman, and would niver cum back.

“I stood it three months.  I thot I should die uv the blues.

“One day a man from ther No’th stopped off at ther ranch fur the night.  After supper he said he war a-lookin fur a stock ranch fur his son.  I said, ‘Why not buy mine?’

“Then he asked all ’er ’bout it; how many acres; how much stock; ’bout the water, and what my price war.