There was a wedding that fall and Anne Stockard was the bride . When she was safely his , Jerome confessed all and was graciously forgiven . `` But it was kind of mean to Harriet , '' said Anne rebukingly , `` to go with her and get her talked about and then drop her as you did . Do n't you think so yourself , Jerome ? '' Her husband 's eyes twinkled . `` Well , hardly that . You see , Harriet 's engaged to that Johnson fellow out west . ` Tai n't generally known , but I knew it and that 's why I picked on her . I thought it probable that she 'd be willing enough to flirt with me for a little diversion , even if I was old . Harriet 's that sort of a girl . And I made up my mind that if that did n't fetch it nothing would and I 'd give up for good and all . But it did , did n't it , Anne ? '' `` I should say so . It was horrid of you , Jerome -- but I daresay it 's just as well you did or I 'd likely never have found out that I could n't get along without you . I did feel dreadful . Poor Octavia could tell you I was as cross as X . How did you come to think of it , Jerome ? '' `` A fellow had to do something , '' said Jerome oracularly , `` and I 'd have done most anything to get you , Anne , that 's a fact . And there it was -- courting fifteen years and nothing to show for it . I dunno , though , how I did come to think of it .
Guess it was a sort XXXXX inspiration .
Harriet Stockard Tai of on out rebukingly that to without