And this woman, sir, thrilled you, sir; maddened you, sir; absolutely sent your blank soul to perdition with her blank fascination! And one day I said to her, 'Celeste, how in blank did you come by that beautiful scar, blank you ?' And she said to me, 'Star, there isn't another white man that I'd confide in but you; but I made that scar myself, purposely, I did, blank me.' These were her very words, sir, and perhaps you think it a blank lie, sir; but I'll put up any blank sum you can name and prove it, blank me." Indeed, most of the male population of Fiddletown were or had been in love with her.

Of this number, about one-half believed that their love was returned, with the exception, possibly, of her own husband.

He alone had been known to express skepticism.
The name of the gentleman who enjoyed this infelicitous distinction was Tretherick.

He had been divorced from an excellent wife to marry this Fiddletown enchantress.

She, also, had been divorced; but it was hinted that some previous experiences of hers in that legal formality had made it perhaps less novel, and probably less sacrificial.