ecognized the telegraph operator
coming across a lot. "Glad to see you," he said, coming up and holding
out his hand. "Didn't hear about her, did you?"

"Hear about whom?" I asked, not pleased that he should have broken in
upon my sorrowful meditation.

"Mrs. McHenry."

"No, I've heard nothing. What about her?"

"Why, there's everything about her. She's my wife--married night before
last. Know that piece of calico I pointed out that day, the time I said
I had to be mighty careful? Well, she's it. I'll walk on up with you.
Run it down--run in panting, you might say. Said I had to have her and
she shied at first, but that didn't make any difference, for I was there
three times a day till she saw it wasn't any use to shy any longer; so
she gave in and I caught the first preacher that happened to be hanging
around and he soon pronounced us one and the same kind--something of the
same sort. Go right down that street and you'll see calico on my clothes
line most any time. Say, it will be a pity if they hang that young
fellow. And I'll tell you what I'll do. If they send anything off to any
of the newspapers I'll spell his name wrong. Get even with them some
way, won't we? Yonder comes my boy and I reckon there's a call for me at
the office. They are rushing me now--seems to be the busy season. I've
been to the office twice already to-day."

Long before I reached the court-house I heard old Conkwright bellowing
at the jury. The windows were full of people and outside men were
standing upon boxes, straining to see the old fellow in his mighty
tirade. I could not get into the room, but I squeezed my way to the door
and stood there, with my blood leaping. Now I could see why they had
called him powerful. His face was aglow, his gray hair was upon end and
his eyes were shooting darts at the jury. I know not how long he spoke,
but I know that suddenly he was silent, looking upward, and then,
spreading his hands over the jury, said: "May God in his infinite mercy
influence your decision." He sat down, and I noticed then that the air
was cooler with a breeze that sprang up when the sun had set. The
state's attorney made a few remarks, and then the judge delivered his
charge to the jury, an address short, but earnest. Now there was a
shoving and a crush--the jurymen were filing out. I saw them leading Alf
back to the jail, but I did not go to him, so pulled and hauled I was by
hope and fear. But I made my way to the old lawyer, a