led the Colonel. "This ain't
nothing to spread broadcast in this community."

"Never can tell what's li'ble to happen," retorted Sproul.
"Witnesses don't never hurt cases like this."

He continued to call the farmers, despite Ward's objurgations.
Farmers called their wives. All followed behind the engaged couple.
As usually happens in country communities, word had gone abroad in
other directions that there were strange doings at the Pike place.
With huge satisfaction the Cap'n noted that the yard was packed with
spectators.

"Where be ye?" bellowed Colonel Ward, now in a frenzy. "Where be ye,
ye scalawags that are round tryin' to hector a respectable woman that
wouldn't wipe her feet on ye? Come out here and talk to me!"

The neighbors fell back, recognizing his authority in the matter;
and the men who were suing this modern Penelope appeared from various
parts of the premises.

"I desire to say, as a clergyman along evangelical lines, and not
a settled pastor," said the man in the fuzzy plug-hat, "that I do
not approve of this person's violent language. I have seen him once
before to-day, and he appeared singularly vulgar and unrefined. He
used violent language then. I desire to say to you, sir, that I am
here on the best of authority"--he tapped his breast pocket--"and
here I shall remain until I have discussed the main question
thoroughly with the estimable woman who has invited me here."

"It's a lie--I never invited him, Colonel Gid!" cried the spinster.
"If you're any part of a man, and mean any part of what you have allus
said to me, you'll make him take that back."

For a moment the Colonel's jealous suspicion had flamed again, but
the woman's appeal fired him in another direction.

"Look here, you men," he shouted, his gaze running over plug-hat,
swollen nose, seaman's broad face, and the faces of the other suitors,
"I'm Gideon Ward, of Smyrna, and I've been engaged to Miss Pharline
Pike for fifteen years, and--"

"Then I don't blame her for changing her mind, ye bloody landlubber!"
snorted the seaman, smacking his hand upon his folded paper.

"Being engaged signifies little in the courts of matrimony," said
the decayed-looking man with dignity. "She has decided to choose
another, and--"

Colonel Ward threw back his shoulders and faced them all with
glittering eyes.

"I'd like to see the man that can step into this town and lug off
the woman that's promised to me," he raved. "Engagements don't h