bison was in love with Mildred, as he had been led to believe
was the case, what right had he to be so persistent in his attentions
to Judith? Well, at any rate he was leaving the county and would have
no more chance to hover around the girl. Any hovering that was done
Jeff was determined to do himself.

"I have seen this girl but four times in all, unless I can count those
times when she was a little, barefooted kid selling blackberries and
I was such a fool I couldn't understand what she was to grow to be,
and still I'm as sure as I shall ever be of anything in my life that
she is the only girl for me." Thus he mused after he had left the room
rather than listen to his sister's gossip. He was standing on the
porch, looking through the trees at the garden beyond, and thinking
what an appropriate background it would be for Judith's rare beauty.
How he would like to lead her through the box maze and then sit beside
her on the marble bench under the syringa bushes! If he could prevail
upon the independent girl to listen to him, would his family receive
her? Would it not be best for all concerned if he could forget Judith?
Anyhow, he would not try to see her again, and he would soon be
settled in Louisville, making only occasional visits home. Life looked
dreary to Jeff.

CHAPTER XVII

Uncle Billy Makes a Call

Judith and her mother were also the victims of the morning after. Mrs.
Buck was pale and listless, complaining of shortness of breath, while
Judith felt it impossible to accomplish the many duties she had
planned for Saturday forenoon.

"The truth of the matter is I can't stop dancing. If I only had some
quick music I could work to it. I wonder if Cinderella swept the
hearth clean the morning after the ball. Mumsy, do you think the
prince was there last night?" she asked.

"Prince! What prince?"

"Oh, just any old prince! Prince Charming! I think--in fact I am
sure--I liked my Cousin Jeff Bucknor better than any of the men who
danced with me."

"Now, Judith, please don't start up that foolishness. Jeff Bucknor may
dance with you because everybody else wanted to, but he would be very
much astonished if he heard you calling him cousin."

"Well, he heard me last night, but he started it. He wanted to boss
me, because he said he was my nearest of kin. I just laughed at him
and called out, 'Good-bye, Cousin!' Mr. Big Josh Bucknor almost
claimed kin with me, too. Wouldn't it be funny, Mumsy, if all of