r cheek glow like the wild rose.

These were echoes of a love-making that had lately taken hold of her
heart, that had grown insistently sweet and dear to her, that had
established its sway impetuously, tyrannically, over her life, that
had caused her to seem more to herself, and as if she were infinitely
more to her new lover.

She wondered how she could ever have even tolerated this dullard, with
his slow, measured preference, his unquestioning security of her
heart, his doltish credulity in her and her promise, his humble
gratitude to her mother,--who had often enough, in good sooth, got
full value in return for aught she gave,--who appeared "beautiful" to
his mind. She broke forth abruptly, her cheeks flushing, her eyes
brave and bright, the subject nearest her heart on her lips, in the
sudden influx of courage set astir by the mere contemplation of it.

"Waal now, tell 'bout Wat--how he enj'ys bein' a candidate, an' sech."
Then, with a tremor because of her temerity: "I have hearn o' that
thar beautisome old 'oman a time or two afore, but Wat ez a candidate
air sorter fraish an' new."

He turned his clear, unsuspicious eyes upon her. He had replaced his
wide wool hat on his head, and he leaned forward, resting his cheek on
his hand and his elbow on his knee. He aimlessly flicked his long
spurred boot, as he talked, with a willow wand which he carried in
lieu of horsewhip.

"Waal, Wat is some similar ter a balky horse. He don't seem ter sense
a word I say, nor ter be willin' ter do a thing I advise, nor even ter
take heart o' grace 'bout bein' 'lected, till we gets out 'mongst
folks, an' _thar_ handshakin's and frien'liness seems ter hearten up
the critter. I hev jes' hed ter baig an' baig, an' plead an' plead,
with that boy 'bout this an' that an' t'other, till I wouldn't go
through ag'in what I _hev_ been through ter git 'lected doorkeeper o'
heaven. But," with a sudden change of tone and a flush of pride,
"The'dosia, ye dunno what a' all-fired pretty speaker Wat hev got ter
be. Jes' stan's up ez straight an' smilin' afore all the crowd, an'
jes' tells off his p'ints, one, two, three, ez nip! An' the crowd
always cheers an' cheers--jes' bawls itse'f hoarse. Whenever thar's a
chance ter speak, Wat jes' leaves them t'other candidates nowhar."

Ah, Theodosia's beauty well deserved the guerdon of sweet words. She
might have been pictured as a thirsting Hebe. She had a look of
quaffing some cup of nectar, still