back to him.'

"Well, Emmeline said they both fell back on the porch steps like
they'd been shot, and as soon as they could speak they both said:
'Left him! What for?' Emmeline said she felt so ashamed of Henry she'd
made up her mind from the first that nobody ever should know about
that little silk shirt. So she says, 'I've found out that Henry's not
the man I thought he was. I've left him for good and all.' And old man
Middleton says, 'Why, daughter, what's he done amiss? I've known Henry
from a boy up, and there ain't a man in the county I'd rather have for
a son-in-law.' And Emmeline says, 'Yes, I used to think that way
myself, but I've found out different.' And the old man says, 'Has he
struck you or mistreated you in any way? He's been too well brought up
for that. He ain't close-fisted about money matters, I know, for I've
had dealin's with him myself, and, besides, you ain't been married to
him long enough to have to call on him for anything.' And Emmeline
says, 'No, he's as freehanded as he can be, and I've got nothin' to
complain about except that I didn't know him as well as I do now, and
since I know him, why, I don't want to live with him.'

"And then her mother begun questionin', and all she could git out of
Emmeline was that Henry wasn't the man she thought he was; and at last
the old lady lost her patience and says she, 'In the name o' peace!
Have I got a child with so little sense as to think that that's any
reason for leavin' a man? Of course he ain't the man you thought he
was, and you ain't the woman he thought you was. But what o' that? If
husbands and wives took to partin' on that account, the world would be
full o' grass-widders and grass-widderers.' Says she, 'You're welcome
to stay here till Henry comes for you, and I'll give out to the
neighbors that you're makin' us a visit, but back to Henry you've got
to go. Gittin' married,' says she, 'is like buyin' a piece o'
dress-goods at the store. As long as you haven't had it cut off the
bolt, you can change your mind, but if it's once cut off, you've got
to pay for it and take it home and make the best o' your bargain.'
Says she, 'You had plenty o' time to find out what sort o' man Henry
was, and you turned your back on two good chances whilst you waited
for him, and now there's no slippin' out o' the trade. I don't propose
to have any widders in my family,' says she, 'except the sort that can
put up a tombstone and wear a black veil.' Says she, 'T