He began to nestle and drowse,
but presently spoke like one talking in his sleep, and said:
"Did I hear horses' feet? Have they come?"
One of the veterans answered, close to his ear: "It was Jimmy
Parish come to say the party got delayed, but they're right up
the road a piece, and coming along. Her horse is lame, but she'll
be here in half an hour."
"Oh, I'm SO thankful nothing has happened!"
He was asleep almost before the words were out of his mouth.
In a moment those handy men had his clothes off, and had tucked
him into his bed in the chamber where I had washed my hands.
They closed the door and came back. Then they seemed preparing to leave;
but I said: "Please don't go, gentlemen. She won't know me; I am
a stranger."
They glanced at each other. Then Joe said:
"She? Poor thing, she's been dead nineteen years!"
"Dead?"
"That or worse. She went to see her folks half a year after she
was married, and on her way back, on a Saturday evening, the Indians
captured her within five miles of this place, and she's never been
heard of since."
"And he lost his mind in consequence?"
"Never has been sane an hour since. But he only gets bad when
that time of year comes round. Then we begin to drop in here,
three days before she's due, to encourage him up, and ask if he's heard
from her, and Saturday we all come and fix up the house with flowers,
and get everything ready for a dance.
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