every week, an' he might 'a' tuk Delmira that cooked to
the inn five year ago. She'd 'a' had him in a minnit, an' she done her
best to git him, but he stayed faithful, an' he sez, sez he, ''Meelia
El'n, ef you're meanin' to keep your word, I'll wait ef it's a lifetime,
but I hope you won't make it any longer'n you need;' an' the night he
said that I promused him agin I'd be hisn soon ez ever I was free to
do's I pleased. I'd like to see them big trees, but I can't do it. I
jes' can't do it."

Now Hazel was not a young woman who was easily balked in her plans when
once they were made. She was convinced that the only thing to do was to
take this trip and that Amelia Ellen was the only person in the world
she wanted for a companion; therefore she made immediate acquaintance
with Peter Burley, a heavy-browed, thoughtful, stolid man, who looked
his character of patient lover, every inch of him, blue overalls and
all. Hazel's heart almost misgave her as she unfolded her plan to his
astonished ears, and saw the look of blank dismay that overspread his
face. However, he had not waited all these years to refuse his
sweetheart anything in reason now. He drew a deep sigh, inquired how
long the trip as planned would take, allowed he "could wait another
month ef that would suit," and turned patiently to his barn-yard to
think his weary thoughts, and set his hopes a little further ahead. Then
Hazel's heart misgave her. She called after him and suggested that
perhaps he might like to have the marriage first and go with them,
taking the excursion as a wedding trip. She would gladly pay all
expenses if he would. But the man shook his head.

"I couldn't leave the stock fer that long, ennyhow you fix it. Thur
ain't no one would know to take my place. Besides, I never was fer
takin' journeys; but 'Meelia Ellen, she's allus ben of a sprightlier
disposition, an' ef she hez a hankerin' after Californy, I 'spect she'll
be kinder more contented like ef she sees 'em first an' then settles
down in Granville. She better go while she's got the chancet."

Amelia Ellen succumbed, albeit with tears. Hazel could not tell whether
she was more glad or sad at the prospect before her. Whiles Amelia Ellen
wept and bemoaned the fate of poor Burley, and whiles she questioned
whether there really were any big trees like what you saw in the
geographies with riding parties sitting contentedly in tunnels through
their trunks. But at last she consented to go, an