s needless to name her.
Let us also drink to the health and prosperity of the thrice-fortunate
man who has won her love--Mr. Campbell, your health." He touched his
wine to his lips; the others drained their glasses, and all sat down.

There was an expectant silence. Checkers felt the blood go surging to
his brain, while his heart seemed to sink like lead within him. He
felt powerless to rise, although he knew that all were awaiting his
response. The silence became painful. "Speech," murmured some one.
"Speech," echoed the others. With a superhuman effort he managed to
arise, and grasping a full glass of water, drained it. "I 'll tell
you, boys," he said huskily, "here's where I 'd put up the talk of my
life, if I could; but it's like it was that day they declared all bets
off--the occasion 's too much for me. I feel it all--I feel it in my
heart," he continued earnestly. "I 'm obliged to Arthur for his
motion, and to you all for making it unanimous. I know that I 'm
lucky, so lucky that I can hardly believe my good fortune myself. Half
the time I think that I must be asleep, and trying to 'cash a
hop-dream.' I 've been ready to get married for a couple of years--I
've had everything but the stuff and the girl; I was ready to furnish
the groom all right; but I 've always had a feeling that I could n't
have much respect for a girl that would marry me if she was 'onto'
me--every fellow feels the same, or ought to. And so when I find I
have drawn a prize girl, who, as Arthur says, is 'the fairest and
sweetest God ever put on this earth,' and it's true, it jars me, boys;
it does, on the dead. I feel like the only winner in a poker-game, as
though I ought to apologize for it--and I do, with about the same
regret.

"Well, I 've had my hard luck, and 'played out the string,' and now
that things seem to be coming my way, I 'm going to enjoy myself while
it lasts. 'Life is short, and we 're a long time dead.' That's an old
saying, but it's a good one. Boys, I hope you 'll all be as happy as I
am when it comes your turn, and may it come soon. Here 's how." He
lifted his glass, which in the mean time the waiter had filled, and,
smiling around the circle, tossed off his wine in unison with the
others and sat down.

There was the usual clapping and cheering, after which Checkers asked
their attention for a moment more. "I want to sign two of you fellows
for groomsmen," he said. "I wish I needed four, I 'd like