<TITLE>15. Par 119-132</TITLE>L-119   And then when I got down at church, I happened to think, "What if she did get it?" See? And I couldn't hear what Doctor Davis was saying. I look over at her, and I thought, "If maybe she's just holding it back, and she's really going to tell me off when I get out of here, for asking her that." And I couldn't hear what Brother Davis was saying. And--and I look over at her, and I thought, "My, I hate to give her up, but... And I--I... the showdown's sure to come."

L-120 So after church we started walking down the street together, going home, and--and so we walked to the old Ford. And so all along the moon was shining bright, you know, I look over and she was pretty. Boy, I look at her, and I thought, "My, how I would like to have her, but guess I can't."

L-121   And so I walked on a little farther, you know, and I'd look up at her again. I said, "How--how you feeling tonight?"
She said, "Oh, I'm all right."

L-122 And we stopped the old Ford down and we started to get out, you know, around the side, walk around the corner and go to her house. And I was walking up to the door with her. I thought, "You know, she probably never got the letter, so I just might as well forget it. I'll have another week of grace anyhow." So I got to feeling pretty good.
She said, "Billy?"
I said, "Yeah."
She said, "I got your letter." Oh, my!
I said, "You did?"

L-123 She said, "Uh-huh." Well, she just kept walking on, never said another word.

L-124 I thought, "Woman, tell me something. Run me away or tell me what you think about it." And I said, "Did you--did you read it?"
She said, "Uh-huh."

L-125 My, you know how a woman can keep you in suspense. Oh, I--I didn't mean it just that way, you see. See? But, anyhow, you know, I--I thought, "Why don't you say something?" See, and I kept going on. I said, "Did you read it all?"
And she... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] "Uh-huh."

L-126   So we was almost to the door, and I thought, "Boy, don't get me on the porch, 'cause I might not be able to outrun them, so you tell me now." And so I kept waiting.

L-127 And she said, "Billy, I would love to do that." She said, "I love you." God bless her soul now, she's in Glory. She said, "I love you." Said, "I think we ought to tell our parent, the parents about it. Don't you think so?"

L-128 And I said, "Honey, listen, let's start this out with a fifty-fifty proposition." I said, "I'll tell your daddy if you'll tell your mother." Rooting the worse part off on her, to begin with.
She said, "All right, if you'll tell Daddy first."
I said, "All right, I'll tell him Sunday night."

L-129   And so Sunday night come, I brought her home from church and I... She kept looking at me. And I looked, and it was nine-thirty, it was time for me to get going. So Charlie was sitting at his desk, typing away. And Mrs. Brumbach sitting over the corner, doing some kind of a crocheting, you know, or them little hoops you put over things, you know. I don't know what you call it. And so she was doing some of that kind of stuff. And Hope kept looking at me, and she'd frown at me, you know, motion to her daddy. And I... Oh, my! I thought, "What if he says, 'No'?" So I started out to the door, I said, "Well, I guess I'd better go."

L-130   And I walked to the door, and--and she started over to the door with me. She'd always come to the door and tell me "good night." So I started to the door, and she said, "Aren't you going to tell him?"

L-131 And I said, "Huh!" I said, "I'm sure trying to, but I--I--I don't know how I'm a-going to do it."

L-132 And she said, "I'll just go back and you call him out." So she walked back and left me standing there.
And I said, "Charlie."
He turned around and said, "Yeah, Bill?"
I said, "Could I talk to you just a minute?"


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