e that way, Miss Sally; I know all
about it. I read it in Jarby's Encyclopedia."

"Lands sakes!" exclaimed Miss Sally. "And me and him only got well
acquainted last night at the festival. I never heard of such a thing!"

"It's love at first sight," teased Mrs. Smith. "He will probably be
around this afternoon to propose, and we can have the wedding this
evening."

"Well, he needn't come this afternoon, if he's got it in his mind to
come," said Miss Sally shortly, "for I won't be at home. I ain't goin'
to be rushed that way, not by no man. I don't say but Mr. Hewlitt is a
clever spoken man, Mrs. Smith, when he ain't talkin' books, but I ain't
in the habit of bein' courted like I was a Seidlitz powder, and had to
be drunk down before I stopped fizzin'. That may be some folks way of
doin' it, but it ain't mine."

"Nor Colonel Guthrie's," suggested Mrs. Smith.

"If the Colonel's slow it ain't his fault," said Miss Sally. "He'd
be quick enough if I'd let him, but I can't see no hurry, one way or
another. I don't say but that a husband is a good thing to have, mind
you! I guess I'm like all other women and want to have one some time,
but so long as I've got pa I'm in no hurry. He's as much trouble as
a husband would be, and as grumpy when things don't go to suit him.
Sometimes I feel like in the end I'd choose to marry the Colonel, since
it wouldn't be so much of a change, the Colonel bein' like pa in some
ways, such as bein' economical; and then again I feel like I'd prefer
Skinner, just because he'd BE a change. I'd be always sure of gettin'
good meat, for one thing, and I'd insist upon it. I can't a-bear tough
meat.

"Shoemakers' children go without shoes," suggested Mrs. Smith.

"They wouldn't if I was their mother, an' I'll tell Skinner so, if I
choose to marry him an' he tries to send home any but the best meat he's
got in the shop," said Miss Sally firmly. "That's one man, if I marry
him, I won't take no foolishness from. When a man is castin' his eyes my
way, an' then has to have a city ordinance made to compel him to do me
the favor of buyin' four fire-extinguishers off of me, that ain't no
earthly use to me, I'll let him know I'm going to have my way about some
things when we're married. I know well enough I ain't such a beauty that
Skinner an' the Colonel is what you might call infatuated with me, and
I don't expect 'em to be. Pa's got money, and if he didn't have I guess
the Colonel an' Skinner wouldn't bo