your dollar."

"Want a receipt?"

"Sure, Mike. I couldn't trust you."

An odd look crossed his face. He did not play easily, but he tried:

"I can't give you a receipt now, because everybody is looking."

"Do you mean that you had an idea of kissing me?" she gasped.

"Yep."

"You reckless devil! Do you think that a plutocrat can kiss every poor
goil in the shop?"

"You're the only one here."

"Well, then, do you think you'll take advantage of my womanly
helplessness?"

"Yes."

"Never! Overalls is royal raiment when wore for voitue's sake. You'll
never kiss me till you put a wedding-ring on me finger."

He looked away, sobered and troubled.

She stared at him. "Good Heavens! Can't you take a hint?"

"Not that one."

"Then I insist on your marrying me. You have compromised me
hopelessly. Everybody says I am working here just to be near you, and
that's a fact."

He was a caricature of mental and physical awkwardness.

She gasped: "And still he doesn't answer me! Must I get on my knees to
you?"

She dropped on her knees, a blue denim angel on a cloud, praying
higher.

He stormed: "For Heaven's sake, get up! Somebody will see you."

She did not budge. "I'll not rise from my knees till you promise to
marry me."

He started to escape, moved toward the steps. She seized his knees and
moaned:

"Oh, pity me! pity me!"

He was excruciated with her burlesque, tried to drag her to her feet,
but he had only one hand and he could not manage her.

"Please get up. I can't make you. I've only one arm."

"Let's see if it fits." She rose and, holding his helpless hand,
whirled round into his arm. "Perfect!" Then she stood there and called
from her eyrie to the sea-gulls that haunted the river, "In the
presence of witnesses this man has taken me for his affianced
fiancee."

* * * * *

They had a wedding in the village church. Abbie was matron of honor
and gave her sister away. Her children were very dressed up and
highly uncomfortable. Abbie drew Mamise aside after the signing of the
book.

"Oh, thank Gawd you're marrit at last, Mamise! You've been such a
worrit to me. I hope you'll be as happy as poor Jake and me was. If he
only hadn't 'a' had to gave his life for you, you wouldn't 'a' been.
But he's watchin' you from up there and-- Oh dear! Oh dear!"

Jake was already a tradition of increasing beauty. So may we all of us
be!

Mamise insisted on dragging