human
Why, Kate, you down here again; you've cut the parson fellow, eh?
gpt
Oh, no, said Katrine hastily, reddening a little;
human
I'm just in town for a day or so. How's your wife?
gpt
Well, answered Sam slowly, as he put himself at her side and slouched heavily along the side-walk with her.
human
She's all right--leastways I reckon she ought to be; she's in 'eaven now.
gpt
Oh, Sam! said Katrine, in a shocked voice,
human
Why, I reckon it was the cold like, she kind of froze to death. When I got home one night the fire was out, and she was just laying acrost the hearth; the room was awful cold, and there warn't no food neither--I 'spect that helped it. I'd bin away three or four days, and the food give out quicker than I thought, and the firin'. I arst a doctor here wot it was, and he said it was sincough or sumthin'.
gpt
Syncope?
human
Yes, that's what 'e said; but I sez it was just the cold a ketchin' of her heart like, and stopping it.
gpt
What were you doing?
human
Why, I was out arter gold, o' course.
gpt
Sally White
human
Let's go in, Sam, and get a drink. Your tale has pretty near frozen me.