unt
Susan, Grandmother and Tom, motored all the way over to Columbus to offer
theirs. Ethel was wild with joy.

"Why," she exclaimed, "everything is getting better! People are doing
such sensible things lately, just as they should do. Isn't it wonderful?
But, Tom, I always thought that you cared for Cousin Kate."

"So I have all along, but just as I was considering, in walked the Judge
and took her off under my very nose. While I was a poor lawyer I felt
that she might refuse me and I took no chances, but I never imagined
she'd look at a man of his age. She's certainly met the one for her. What
a splendid couple they'll make."

"You always were slow, Tom; that's your fault," laughed Ethel, "and
you'll always get left. It serves you right."

"Yes, that's going to be my fate, I fear. Before I can muster up courage
to propose, these girls will be snatched up--every one of them."

Judge Sands and Kate were to be married in November. They were to go to
New York, Washington, etc., on a wedding trip, after which they were to
meet Patty and sail for Egypt to be gone indefinitely.

"Oh, dear! who can take your place at Camp?" said the girls. "We'll never
find another Guardian like you."

"I'll ask Louise Morehouse," said Miss Kate. "She's lovely, and very much
interested in this Camp Fire movement. She'll be one of you just as I
have been."

"Yes, and then she'll meet someone and go off and marry," said Mollie
Long. "There should be a law against it. A Guardian should be obliged to
serve for five years unmarried--it isn't fair," and the girls voted that
Mollie was correct.

CHAPTER XII

MATTIE MAKES GOOD

After Camp had broken up, Mattie Hastings, who was now associated with a
Woman's Exchange in Columbus, started one afternoon to call for Patty
Sands. It was Saturday and the Exchange closed early. Mattie was doing
well. She received a good salary and her heart was light. Her sister was
beginning to walk. The doctors considered that next year she could
discard her brace. The child was not only attending school but she was
learning many useful things and Mattie was happy. Her mother had entirely
given up the drug habit; her father was with Judge Sands and everything
seemed as though it had come straight like a fairy story.

This lovely autumn afternoon they were going to Sallie Davis's to look at
a wonderful centerpiece done by her mother. Mattie, whose fingers were
extremely clever, had offered to do the w