n't make no differ how they jow then."

"I done tole ye, Jacob," said the sedate Cynthia, still fanning with
the sunbonnet.

With a sudden return of his inspiration, Jacob retorted, affecting an
air of stolid indifference: "Jes' ez _ye_ choose. I won't hev ter ax
Becky Stiles twict."

And he turned to go.

"I never said no, Jacob," said Cynthia precipitately. "I never said ez
how I wouldn't hev ye."

"Waal, then, jes' come along with me right now while I hitch up the
mare. I ain't a-goin' ter leave yer a-standin' hyar. Ye're too
skittish. Time I come back ye'd hev done run away I dunno whar." A
moment's pause and he added: "Is ye a-goin' ter stand thar all day,
Cynthy Hollis, a-lookin' up an' around, and a-turnin' yer neck fust
this way and then t'other, an' a-lookin' fur all the worl' like a wild
turkey in a trap, or one o' them thar skeery young deer, or sech
senseless critters? What ails the gal?"

"Thar'll be nobody ter help along the work ter our house," said
Cynthia, the weight of the home difficulties bearing heavily on her
conscience.

"What's ter hender ye from a-goin' down thar an' lendin' a hand every
wunst in a while? But ef ye're a-goin' ter stand thar like ye hedn't
no more action than a--a-dunno-what,--jes' like yer dad, I ain't. I'll
jes' leave ye a-growed ter that thar post, an' I'll jes' light out
stiddier, an' afore the cows git ter Pine Lick, I'll be thar too. Jes'
ez ye choose. Come along ef ye wants ter come. I ain't a-goin' ter ax
ye no more."

"I'm a-comin'," said Cynthia.

There was great though illogical rejoicing on the part of the country
faction when the crowds were again seated, tier above tier, in the
amphitheatre, and the riders were once more summoned into the arena,
to discover from Jacob Brice's unaccounted-for absence that he had
withdrawn and left the nominee to his chances.

In the ensuing competition it became very evident to the not
altogether impartially disposed judges that they could not, without
incurring the suspicions alike of friend and foe, award the premium to
their fellow-townsman. Straight as a shingle though he might be, more
prepossessing to the eye, the ex-cavalryman of fifty battles was far
better trained in all the arts of horsemanship.

A wild shout of joy burst from the rural party when the most portly
and rubicund of the portly and red-faced judges advanced into the ring
and decorated Jenkins Hollis with the blue ribbon. A frantic
antistrophe ren