He was gazing moodily down the muddy road when Dan Chester , homeward bound from the post office , came riding sloppily along on his grey mare and pulled up by the Barrett gate to hand a paper to Julius . Dan was a young man who took life and himself very seriously . He seldom smiled , never joked , and had a Washingtonian reputation for veracity . Dan had never told a conscious falsehood in his life ; he never even exaggerated . Julius , beholding Dan 's solemn face , was seized with a perfectly irresistible desire to `` fool '' him . At the same moment his eye caught the dazzling reflection of the setting sun on the windows of Adelia Williams 's house , and he had an inspiration little short of diabolical . `` Have you heard the news , Dan ? '' he asked . `` No , what is it ? '' asked Dan . `` I dunno 's I ought to tell it , '' said Julius reflectively . `` It 's kind of a family affair , but then Adelia did n't say not to , and anyway it 'll be all over the place soon . So I 'll tell you , Dan , if you 'll promise never to tell who told you . Adelia Williams and Young Thomas Everett are going to be married . '' Julius delivered himself of this tremendous lie with a transparently earnest countenance . Yet Dan , credulous as he was , could not believe it all at once . `` Git out , '' he said . `` It 's true , ` pon my word , '' protested Julius . `` Adelia was up last night and told Ma all about it . Ma 's her cousin , you know .
The wedding is to be XXXXX June , and Adelia asked Ma to help her get her quilts and things ready . ''
At about down for from if in of over to