e years to be
thrust into view covered with alkali dust and with one's hat on awry
would be too much for feminine patience; so I pointed out to Bishey
that he'd better clear out and let Miss Em'ly rest a bit before he
showed up. At last he reluctantly agreed.

I went out to the kitchen to find what could be expected in the way of
hot water for Miss Em'ly when she should come. I found I could have all
I wanted if I heated it myself. Mrs. Ferguson could not be bothered
about it, because a water company had met there to vote on new canals,
the sheep-men were holding a convention, there was a more than usual
run of transients besides the regular boarders, and supper was ordered
for the whole push. All the help she had was a girl she just knew
didn't have sense enough to pound sand into a rat-hole. Under those
circumstances I was mighty glad to help. I put water on to heat and
then forgot Miss Em'ly, I was enjoying helping so much, until I heard a
door slam and saw the stage drive away toward the barn.

I hastened to the room I knew was reserved for Miss Em'ly. I rapped on
the door, but it was only opened a tiny crack. I whispered through
that I was a neighbor-friend of Mr. Bennet's, that I had lots of hot
water for her and had come to help her if I might. Then she opened the
door, and I entered. I found a very travel-stained little woman, down
whose dust-covered cheeks tears had left their sign. Her prettiness was
the kind that wins at once and keeps you ever after. She was a strange
mixture of stiff reticence and childish trust. She was in _such_ a
flutter, and she said she was ashamed to own it, but she was so hungry
she could hardly wait.

After helping her all I could, I ran out to see about the wedding
supper that was to be served before the wedding. I found that no
special supper had been prepared. It seemed to me a shame to thrust
them down among the water company, the convention, the regulars, and
the transients, and I mentally invited myself to the wedding supper and
began to plan how we could have a little privacy. The carpenters were
at work on a long room off the kitchen that was to be used as
storeroom and pantry. They had gone for the day, and their saw-horses
and benches were still in the room. It was only the work of a moment to
sweep the sawdust away. There was only one window, but it was large and
in the west. It took a little time to wash that, but it paid to do it.
When a few asters and sprays of rabb