`` If Adelia Williams wo n't have me , I 'll marry the first woman who will , if it 's Sarah Barnett herself . '' Young Thomas shaved and put on his Sunday suit . As soon as it was safely dark , he hied him away to Adelia Williams . He felt very doubtful about his reception , but the remembrance of the twinkle in Adelia 's brown eyes comforted him . She looked like a woman who had a sense of humour ; she might not take him , but she would not feel offended or insulted because he asked her . `` Dang it all , though , I hope she will take me , '' said Young Thomas . `` I 'm in for getting married now and no mistake . And I ca n't get Adelia out of my head . I 've been thinking of her steady ever since that confounded gossip began . '' When he knocked at Adelia 's door he discovered that his face was wet with perspiration . Adelia opened the door and started when she saw him ; then she turned very red and stiffly asked him in . Young Thomas went in and sat down , wondering if all men felt so horribly uncomfortable when they went courting . Adelia stooped low over the woodbox to put a stick of wood in the stove , for the May evening was chilly . Her shoulders were shaking ; the shaking grew worse ; suddenly Adelia laughed hysterically and , sitting down on the woodbox , continued to laugh . Young Thomas eyed her with a friendly grin . `` Oh , do excuse me , '' gasped poor Adelia , wiping tears from her eyes . `` This is -- dreadful -- I did n't mean to laugh -- I do n't know why I 'm laughing -- but -- I -- ca n't help it . '' She laughed helplessly again . Young Thomas laughed too . His embarrassment vanished in the mellowness of that laughter .
Presently Adelia composed herself and removed from the woodbox to a chair , but there was still a suspicious twitching about the corners XXXXX her mouth .
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