her's office had been before "we planted him in the courthouse,
where he belongs," as Cam Gentry used to declare. A real-estate and
money-loaning firm brought three more young men to our town, while half
a dozen families moved out to Kansas from Indiana and made a "Hoosiers'
Nest" in our midst. And then Fingal's Creek and Red Range and all the
fertile Neosho lands were being taken by settlers. The country
population augmented that of the town, nor was the social plane of
Springvale lowered by these farmers' sons and daughters, who also were
of the salt of the earth.

"For an engaged girl, Marjory Whately's about the most popular I ever
see," Dollie Gentry said to Cam one evening, when the Cambridge House
was all aglow with light and full of gay company.

Marjie, in a dainty white wool gown with a pink sash about her waist,
and pink ribbons in her hair, had just gone from the kitchen with three
or four admiring young fellows dancing attendance upon her.

"How can anybody help lovin' her?" Dollie went on.

Cam sighed, "O Lordy! A girl like her to marry that there pole cat! How
can the Good Bein' permit it?"

"'Tain't between her and her Maker; it's all between Mrs. Whately and
Amos," Dollie asserted. "Now, Cam, has anybody ever heard her say she
was engaged? She goes with one and another. Cris Mead's wife says she
always has more company'n she can make use of any ways. It's like too
much canned fruit a'most. Mis' Mead loves Marjie, and she's so proud of
her. Marjie don't wear no ring, neither, not a one, sence she took off
Phil Baronet's."

Springvale had sharp eyes; and the best-hearted among us could tell just
how many rings any girl did or didn't wear.

"Well, by hen!" Cam declared, "I'm just goin' to ask herself myself."

"No, you ain't, Cam Gentry," Dollie said decisively.

"Now, Dollie, don't you dictate to your lord and master no more. I won't
stand it." Cam squinted up at her from his chair in a ludicrous attempt
to frown. "Worst hen-pecked man in town, by golly."

"I ain't goin' to dictate to no fool, Cam. If you want to be one, I
can't help it. I must go and set bread now." And Dollie pattered off
singing "Come Thou Fount," in a soft little old-fashioned tune.

* * * * *

"Marjie, girl, I knowed you when you was in bib aperns, and I knowed
your father long ago. Best man ever went out to fight and never got
back. They's as good a one comin' back, though, some day," he a