the
seven o'clock trolley.

"Heavens! I came mighty near forgetting what I came all the way from
Buck Hill to find out," declared Jeff.

"And what was that?"

"I got to wondering what you would have in your baskets this
evening."

"Ham croquettes, buttered beets, potato salad and hot muffins.
Blackberry dumpling for dessert!" Judith smiled, as she chanted the
menu.

CHAPTER XIX

Miss Ann Moves On

The Bucknors of Buck Hill were going abroad. It was all settled and
they were to start as soon as necessary arrangements could be made.
The plan had been born in Mildred's mind and she had influenced her
mother, who in turn had persuaded her husband and now passage was
engaged and it was only a matter of a few weeks before they would
sail.

It had all come about because Jeff had felt in duty bound to inform
his sister that Tom Harbison had come back to Ryeville with the
intention of calling on another girl, and that girl Judith Buck.

"I always said she was a forward minx," stormed Mildred.

"Right forward with her milk can," laughed Jeff, and then he told of
Tom's rebuff and of the blow he had received instead of the kiss he
demanded. "He's not worthy of you, little sister, and you must not
bother your head about him," said Jeff.

But Mildred did worry and sulk and feel miserable. Tom had made more
impression on Mildred's heart than Jeff had dreamed possible. The girl
was suffering from blighted affections as well as mortification--both
of which no doubt would be dispelled by the European trip.

Jeff was to settle in Louisville and the home would be closed, with
Aunt Em'ly as caretaker. But what was to become of Cousin Ann?

"We can't leave until her visit with us is completed," objected Mr.
Bucknor.

"But, my dear, her visit to us will never be finished, unless we cut
it short," sighed Mrs. Bucknor.

"Let her go visit some of the others," suggested Nan, "She's needing a
change by this time anyhow."

"We must not be unclannish," admonished Mr. Bucknor. "Blood is--"

"Well, mine is not," interrupted Mildred. "I'm just fed up on all of
this relationship business. Old Cousin Ann isn't very close kin to us
anyhow, if you stop and think. She wasn't even more than a third
cousin to Grandfather Bucknor, and when it comes down to us she is so
far removed it wouldn't count if we lived anywhere but in Kentucky or
maybe Virginia. I thought you were going to have a meeting and come
to some conclusion abo