o silence until the big talk shall break out accidentally
and naturally. But Julia, having neither the pipe nor the Indian's
stolidity, found herself under the necessity of beginning abruptly.
Every minute of delay made her position worse. For every minute
increased her doubt of Cynthy Ann's sympathy.

"O Cynthy Ann! I'm so miserable!"

"Yes, I told your ma this morning that you was looking mis'able, and
that you had orter have sassafras to purify the blood, but your ma is so
took up with steam-docterin' that she don't believe in nothin' but
corn-sweats and such like."

"Oh! but, Cynthy, it a'n't that. I'm miserable in my mind. I wish I knew
what to do."

"I thought you'd made up your mind. Your ma told me you was engaged to
Mr. Humphreys."

Julia was appalled. How fast the spider spins his web!

"I a'n't engaged to him, and I hate him. He got me to say yes when I was
crazy, and I believe he brought about the things that make me feel so
nigh crazy. Do you think he's a good man, Cynthy Ann?"

"Well, no, though I don't want to set in no jedgment on nobody; but I
don't see as how as he kin be good and wear all of them costly apparels
that's so forbid in the Bible, to say nothing of the Dis_cip_line. The
Bible says you must know a tree by its fruits, and I 'low his'n is
mostly watch-seals. I think a good sound conversion at the mourners'
bench would make him strip off some of them things, and put them into
the missionary collection. Though maybe he a'n't so bad arter all, fer
Jonas says that liker'n not the things a'n't gold, but pewter washed
over. But I'm afeard he's wor'ly-minded. But I don't want to be too hard
on a feller-creatur'."

[Illustration: CYNTHY ANN HAD OFTEN SAID IN CLASS-MEETING THAT
TEMPTATIONS ABOUNDED ON EVERY HAND.]

"Cynthy, I drempt just now I was a fly and he was a spider, and that he
had me all wrapped up in his web, and that just then you came along
with a broom."

"That must be a sign," said Cynthy Ann. "It's good you didn't dream
after daylight. Then 'twould a come true. But what about _him?_ I
thought you loved Gus Wehle, and though I'm afeard you're makin' a idol
out o' him, and though I'm afeard he's a onbeliever, and I don't noways
like marryin' with onbelievers, yet I did want to help you, and I
brought a note from him wunst and put it under the head of your bed. I
was afeard then I was doin' what Timothy forbids, when he says not to be
pertakers in other folks's sins, but, you