<TITLE>10. Par 34-36</TITLE>L-34 So we went on out and went to church. Honest, I didn't even hear what Brother Davis said that night. He just preached away, and I--I--I didn't know what he said. I was scared something was going to happen.
And I'd look at her, and I thought, "Oh, my, ain't she pretty." And I... She's going to tell me this is all of it, sure as the world, 'cause I could just tell that I--I'd knowed she was going to tell me, "Stay home after tonight." So I had it all fixed up what she was going to tell me, and I...
And after church was over, we started walking back, a pretty moonlight night. We was walking down the street, and I looked up to see the moon shining down through the bushes, went on, you know. And I look at her and I thought, "My, I'd hate for this to be the last night, but I guess this is it." I walked on, you know, and I said, "How are you tonight?"
She said, "Just fine. How are you?"
I thought, "Hurry up, lady. Tell me something, I--I--'fore I faint. Don't get too close to home." We walked on a little farther, and I said, "Humph, sure a pretty night."
She said, "Yes, it is."
I thought, "Well, why... Hurry up; say something." You know, women can just keep you like that anyhow, you know, under that suspense.

L-35 And I walked on; I thought, "Well, she getting pretty close to home." I said, "Uh, uh... Did uh... Did you get any mail this week?"
She said, "Uh-huh." That was all.
And I said, "Uh, did you get my letter?"
She said, "Uh-huh."
My, oh, my. I was certainly burning energy then. And I said, "Well, uh..." I said, "Did--did you read it?"
She said, "Uh-huh."
My, I--I said, "What'd you think of it?"
She said, "It was all right."
Whew, my. And I said, "Did--did--did you--did you--did you read all of it?"
She said, "Yes, I read it all."
I said, "What'd you think of it?"
She said, "It was all right."
Well, we got married. There it was. I don't know how; we just got married. So...

L-36 My, the next strain come when I had to ask her mother and daddy. Well, I knowed it was appropriate to do that. So I never will forget Charlie Brumbach. He may be setting right here this afternoon for all I know. And her mother was a very prissy sort of a woman. Fine woman, but she belonged up in the ranks, you know. And so Charlie was just a good old humble brother.
And I--I thought I'd better ask him, and let him ask her. He's a... And so I thought I could get by with the man better than I could talk to the women anyhow. So I said...
One night I was leaving, Hope said, "Have you asked dad yet?"
And I said, "No."
She said, "Well, you--you ought to."
I said, "I know I should, but I'm not..."
Hope said, "I think it'll be all right."
So when I went to leave that night, he said, "See you later, Billy."
I said, "Humph, Charlie." He said... I said, "Could--could I talk to you just a little bit?" He would said... I said, "Come out here just a minute." Walked out on the porch, and I was just sweating and shaking. He said... I said, "Charlie," I said, "I--I want to ask you something."
He said, "Oh, you can have her, Bill. Go on, just be good to her."
Oh, my. I love him to this day. I said, "Charlie, I can't make her a living like you do. I can't give her clothes like you can buy her. But I promise you this: I'll love her with all my heart. I'll work till my hands bleed to make her a living. And I'll be as true to her as I know how to be."
He put his... He was a German. He put his big hand over on me. He said, "Bill, I'd rather you would have her and be good to her, than somebody that had a lot of money would treat her mean."
I said, "Thank you, Charlie."


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