. As they onload
themse'fs, the pinfeather person waves his hand to where we-all's
gathered to welcome 'em, an' says by way of introduction:

"'Gents, yere's Abby; or as this Bible sport will say later in the
cer'mony, Abigail Glegg.'

"Of course, we, who represents the Wolfville public, comports ourse'fs
as becomes gents of dignity, an' after takin' off our sombreros, plumb
p'lite, Enright su'gests the O.K. Restauraw as a base of op'rations.

"'Don't you-all reckon,' says Enright to the pinfeather party, 'that
pendin' hostilities, Abby had better go over to Missis Rucker's? Thar
she gets combs an' breshes an' goes over her make-up an' straightens
out her game.'

"The pinfeather party allows this yere is a excellent notion, only him
an' Abby don't seem cl'ar as to what oughter be done about the preacher
sharp.

"'You see, he don't want to come,' explains the pinfeather party, 'an'
it's cost me an' Abby a heap of trouble to round him up. I ain't none
shore but he seizes on the first chance to go stampedin'; an' without
him these rites we-all is bankin' on would cripple down.'

"'No, friends,' says the preacher sharp; 'I will promise to abide by
you an' embrace no openin' to escape. Since I'm here I will yoonite
you-all as you wish; the more readily because I trusts that as man an'
wife you'll prove a mootual restraint one upon the other; an' also for
that I deems you both in your single-footed capac'ty as a threat to the
commoonity. Fear not; prepare yourse'fs an' I'll bring you together in
the happy bonds of matrimony at the drop of the hat.'

"'You notes, Dan,' says Texas Thompson, who's off to one side with Dan
Boggs, 'you notes he talks like his heart's resentful. Them culprits
has r'iled him up; an' now he allows that the short cut to play even is
to marry 'em as they deserves. Which if you-all knows that former wife
of mine, Dan, you'll appreciate what I says.'

"Even after the preacher sharp gives his p'role, Abby acts plenty
doobious. She ain't shore it's wise to throw him loose. It's Doc
Peets who reasshores her.

"'My dear young lady,' says Peets, at the same time bowin' to the
ground, 'you may trust this maverick with me. I'll pledge my word to
prodooce him at the moment when he's called for to make these nuptials
win.'

"'Which I'm aheap obleeged to you, Mister,' says Abby to Peets, sizing
him up approvin'; 'an' now that I'm convinced thar's no chance of my
footure sufferin' from any ab