Now, Phil Blister noticed the frequent visits of the judge, and, inflamed with jealousy, and satisfied that the lady of his heart was an object of interest to every one, he briskly pushed on his suit. Miss Artemesia, believing that she had three strings to her bow, and having mentally arranged her suitors into a sort of sliding-scale, at the top of which was the judge, and at the bottom Phil Blister, was not in a hurry to make up her mind in regard to the latter's proposals. Thus was Phil in great mental agony for several weeks, and, putting all his wits to work, and riding day and night, he fairly deluged the neighbourhood with lies.