欧亨利短篇小说集(37)

"InafewminutesPaisleygallopsuptheaisle,puttingonacuffashecomes.Heexplainsthattheonlydry-goodsstoreintownwasclosedforthewedding,andhecouldn"tgetthekindofaboiledshirtthathistastecalledforuntilhehadbrokeopenthebackwindowofthestoreandhelpedhimself.Thenherangesupontheothersideofthebride,andtheweddinggoeson.IalwaysimaginedthatPaisleycalculatedasalastchancethatthepreachermightmarryhimtothewidowbymistake.
"Aftertheproceedingswasoverwehadteaandjerkedantelopeandcannedapricots,andthenthepopulacehikeditselfaway.LastofallPaisleyshookmebythehandandtoldmeI"dactedsquareandonthelevelwithhimandhewasproudtocallmeafriend.
"Thepreacherhadasmallhouseonthesideofthestreetthathe"dfixeduptorent;andheallowedmeandMrs.Hickstooccupyittilltheten-fortytrainthenextmorning,whenwewasgoingonabridaltourtoElPaso.Hiswifehaddecorateditallupwithhollyhocksandpoisonivy,anditlookedrealfestalandbowery.
"Aboutteno"clockthatnightIsetsdowninthefrontdoorandpullsoffmybootsawhileinthecoolbreeze,whileMrs.Hickswasfixingaroundintheroom.Rightsoonthelightwentoutinside;andIsatthereawhilereverberatingoveroldtimesandscenes.AndthenIheardMrs.Hickscallout,"Ain"tyoucominginsoon,Lem?"