bowing.

Starbottle. Take my kyard to Miss Morris. [Exit SERVANT.

Starbottle. Star! This is the momentous epoch of your life! It
is a moment for which you--are--I may say alone responsible,--
personally responsible! She will be naturally gratified by the--
er--flowers. She will at once recognize this bouquet as a delicate
souvenir of Red Gulch, and will appreciate your recollection. And
the fact, the crushing fact, that you have overlooked the--er--
ungentlemanly conduct of her OWN cousin Sandy, the real Alexander
Morton, that you have--er--assisted to restore the ex-vaquero to
his rights, will--er--er--at once open the door to--er--mutual
confidence and--er--a continuance of that--er--prepossession I have
already noticed. Ahem! here she is.

Enter MISS MARY in full dress.

Miss Mary. You are early, Col. Starbottle. This promptitude does
honor to our poor occasion.

Col. Starbottle. Ged, Miss Mary, promptness with a lady and an
adversary is the first duty of--er--gentleman. I wished that--er--
the morning dew might still be--er--fresh in these flowers. I
gathered them myself (presenting bouquet) at--er--er--flower-stand
in the--er--California market.

Miss Mary (aside). Flowers! I needed no such reminder of poor
Sandy. (Aloud.) I thank you, colonel.