r running through central Ohio. He had, with his
helpers, Young and Edwards, journeyed from time to time to these
points, preaching, making gifts, and soliciting help from chiefs.

The most interesting feature, perhaps, of the varied life of the
missionary party was a rivalry between Young and Edwards for the
elder Miss Wells. Usually Nell's attractiveness appealed more to men
than Kate's; however, in this instance, although the sober teachers
of the gospel admired Nell's winsome beauty, they fell in love with
Kate. The missionaries were both under forty, and good, honest men,
devoted to the work which had engrossed them for years. Although
they were ardent lovers, certainly they were not picturesque. Two
homelier men could hardly have been found. Moreover, the sacrifice
of their lives to missionary work had taken them far from the
companionship of women of their own race, so that they lacked the
ease of manner which women like to see in men. Young and Edwards
were awkward, almost uncouth. Embarrassment would not have done
justice to their state of feeling while basking in the shine of
Kate's quiet smile. They were happy, foolish, and speechless.

If Kate shared in the merriment of the others--Heckewelder could not
conceal his, and Nell did not try very hard to hide hers--she never
allowed a suspicion of it to escape. She kept the easy, even tenor
of her life, always kind and gracious in her quaint way, and
precisely the same to both her lovers. No doubt she well knew that
each possessed, under all his rough exterior, a heart of gold.

One day the genial Heckewelder lost, or pretended to lose, his
patience.

"Say, you worthy gentlemen are becoming ornamental instead of
useful. All this changing of coats, trimming of mustaches, and
eloquent sighing doesn't seem to have affected the young lady. I've
a notion to send you both to Maumee town, one hundred miles away.
This young lady is charming, I admit, but if she is to keep on
seriously hindering the work of the Moravian Mission I must object.
As for that matter, I might try conclusions myself. I'm as young as
either of you, and, I flatter myself, much handsomer. You'll have a
dangerous rival presently. Settle it! You can't both have her;
settle it!"

This outburst from their usually kind leader placed the earnest but
awkward gentlemen in a terrible plight.

On the afternoon following the crisis Heckewelder took Mr. Wells to
one of the Indian shops, and Jim and Nel