He said his name was "Billy Corliss," and explained why he sat onthe fence. He said it was on account of Andrew McCulloch. He said heand Madge McCulloch were agreed, but Andrew McCulloch wasn'tagreeable. That was partly because Andrew wanted Madge to stay whereshe was, partly because Corliss had no assets or prospects, andpartly because Andrew had an unreasonable low opinion of him, as aroaming and unsettled sort. He spoke of Andrew by various and soaringnames, implying a high opinion of him, and especially in speaking ofAndrew's hot temper, his respect got remarkable. He'd call himmaybe, "St. Peter," in that connection, or maybe "Sitting Bull." Forcandour, and opening his mind, and asking the world for sympathy, Itook him to be given that way. He said the town of Adrian was dividedinto two parties on the subject of him, and Madge, and AndrewMcCulloch, so I took it Andrew's temper had had some reasonableexercise.

"St. Peter's got a good run of warm language," he says, "but hisfence is chilly. He's got a toothache in his shoes, he has, that man."

"Why don't you elope?" I says.

"That's the trouble," he says. "When I ask Madge, 'Why not?' shesays, 'Where to?' I'd been thinking I'd take a look around the worldand see."

"Don't you do it," I says. "When you get around the other side, it'sa long way back. It took me thirty years."