ying them dollar-apiece meals on the train. It was Martha that done
it. All this past and gone love story I had been hearing about reminded
me of Martha. And I was steering straight toward her, and no way out of
it. How did I know but what that there girl might be expecting fur to
marry me, or something like that? Not but what I was awful in love with
her whilst we was together. But it hadn't really set in on me very
deep. I hadn't forgot about her right away. But purty soon I had got to
forgetting her oftener than I remembered her. And now it wasn't no use
talking--I jest wasn't in love with Martha no more, and didn't have
no ambition to be. I had went around the country a good bit, and got
intrusted in other things, and saw several other girls I liked purty
well. Keeping steady in love with jest one girl is mighty hard if you
are moving around a good bit.

But I was considerable worried about Martha. She was an awful romanceful
kind of girl. And even the most sensible kind is said to be fools about
getting their hearts broke and pining away and dying over a feller. I
would hate to think Martha had pined herself sick.

I couldn't shut my eyes to the fact we was engaged to each other legal,
all right. And if she wanted to act mean about it and take it to a court
it would likely be binding on me. Then I says to myself is she is mean
enough to do that I'll be derned if I don't go to jail before I marry
her, and stay there.

And then my conscience got to working inside of me agin. And a picture
of her getting thin and not eating her vittles regular and waiting and
waiting fur me to show up, and me never doing it, come to me. And I felt
sorry fur poor Martha, and thought mebby I would marry her jest to keep
her from dying. Fur you would feel purty tough if a girl was to get so
stuck on you it killed her. Not that I ever seen that really happen,
either; but first and last there has been considerable talk about it.

It wasn't but what I liked Martha well enough. It was the idea of
getting married, and staying married, made me feel so anxious. Being
married may work out all right fur some folks. But I knowed it never
would work any with me. Or not fur long. Because why should I want to be
tied down to one place, or have a steady job? That would be a mean way
to live.

Of course, with a person that was the doctor's age it would be
different. He had done his running around and would be willing to settle
down now, I guessed.