by Lulu. But I rejoice, sir, rejoice, that she is blessed by having such loyal relatives!" That puzzled rather than captured them, but he fetched them complete with a jovial, "And such husky ones! I'm pretty strong myself—keep up my exercise lot more'n you think—but I guess I wouldn't be one-two-three with you folks! Good thing for ole Elmer you never let loose that darn' mule-kick of yours, Brother Bains! And you're right. No sense putting off the wedding. May fifteenth will be fine. Now I want to ask one thing: Let me have ten minutes alone with Lu before you make the announcement. I want to console her—make her happy. Oh, you can tell if I keep faith—the eagle eye of a father will know."
"Well, my father's eagle eye ain't been working none too good lately, but I guess it'll be all right for you to see her."
"Now, will you shake hands? Please!"
He was so big, so radiant, so confident. They looked sheepish, grinned like farmers flattered by a politician, and shook hands.
There was a multitude at the Bainses', also fried chicken and watermelon pickles.
The deacon brought Lulu to Elmer in the spare room and left her.
Elmer was at ease on the sofa; she stood before him, trembling, red-eyed.
"Come, you poor child," he condescended.
She approached, sobbing, "Honestly, dear, I didn't tell Pa anything—I didn't ask him to do it—oh, I don't want to if you don't."
"There, there, child. It's all right. I'm sure you'll make a fine wife. Sit down." And he permitted her to kiss his hand, so that she became very happy and wept tremendously, and went out to her father rejoicing.
He considered, meanwhile, "That ought to hold you, damn you! Now I'll figure out some way of getting out of this mess."
At the announcement of Lulu's engagement to a Man of God, the crowd gave hoarse and holy cheers.
Elmer made quite a long speech into which he brought all that Holy Writ had to say about the relations of the sexes—that is, all that he remembered and that could be quoted in mixed company.
