But it hadn't really set in on me very
deep. I hadn't forgot about her right away. But
purty soon I had got to forgetting her oftener than
I remembered her. And now it wasn't no use talk-
ing--I jest wasn't in love with Martha no more, and
didn't have no ambition to be. I had went around
the country a good bit, and got intrusted in other
things, and saw several other girls I liked purty well.
Keeping steady in love with jest one girl is mighty
hard if you are moving around a good bit.
But I was considerable worried about Martha.
She was an awful romanceful kind of girl. And
even the most sensible kind is said to be fools about
getting their hearts broke and pining away and
dying over a feller. I would hate to think Martha
had pined herself sick.
I couldn't shut my eyes to the fact we was en-
gaged to each other legal, all right. And if she
wanted to act mean about it and take it to a
court it would likely be binding on me. Then I
says to myself is she is mean enough to do that I'll be
derned if I don't go to jail before I marry her,
and stay there.
And then my conscience got to working inside of
me agin. And a picture of her getting thin and not
eating her vittles regular and waiting and waiting
fur me to show up, and me never doing it, come to
me.
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