"I will, John, for your sake." We were friends again; she was very sweet, and played something on the piano, and an hour slipped away as if I were in Paradise.

I rose to go, the rain being over.
"But about that paper of fine-cut!" she said, archly, as she went into the hall with me to get my hat; "do you chew, John ?" "No, Belle, that tobacco was for old man Perkins, as sure as I stand here.

If you don't believe me, smell my breath," said I, and I tried to get my arm about her waist.
It was kind of dark in the hall; she did not resist so very much; my lips were only about two inches from hers--for I wanted her to be sure about my breath--when a voice that almost made me faint away, put a conundrum to me: "If you'd a kissed my girl, young man, why would it have been like a Centennial fire-arm ?" "Because it hasn't gone off yet!" I gasped, reaching for my hat.
"Wrong," said he grimly.

"Because it would have been a blunder-buss." I reckon the squire was right..