er choice from among a
dozen suitors; but among them all, her knight of the handkerchief found
most favor.

George Tryon had come to Clarence a few months before upon business
connected with the settlement of his grandfather's estate. A rather
complicated litigation had grown up around the affair, various phases
of which had kept Tryon almost constantly in the town. He had placed
matters in Warwick's hands, and had formed a decided friendship for his
attorney, for whom he felt a frank admiration. Tryon was only
twenty-three, and his friend's additional five years, supplemented by a
certain professional gravity, commanded a great deal of respect from
the younger man. When Tryon had known Warwick for a week, he had been
ready to swear by him. Indeed, Warwick was a man for whom most people
formed a liking at first sight. To this power of attraction he owed
most of his success--first with Judge Straight, of Patesville, then
with the lawyer whose office he had entered at Clarence, with the woman
who became his wife, and with the clients for whom he transacted
business. Tryon would have maintained against all comers that Warwick
was the finest fellow in the world. When he met Warwick's sister, the
foundation for admiration had already been laid. If Rena had proved to
be a maiden lady of uncertain age and doubtful personal attractiveness,
Tryon would probably have found in her a most excellent lady, worthy of
all respect and esteem, and would have treated her with profound
deference and sedulous courtesy. When she proved to be a young and
handsome woman, of the type that he admired most, he was capable of any
degree of infatuation. His mother had for a long time wanted him to
marry the orphan daughter of an old friend, a vivacious blonde, who
worshiped him. He had felt friendly towards her, but had shrunk from
matrimony. He did not want her badly enough to give up his freedom.
The war had interfered with his education, and though fairly well
instructed, he had never attended college. In his own opinion, he
ought to see something of the world, and have his youthful fling.
Later on, when he got ready to settle down, if Blanche were still in
the humor, they might marry, and sink to the humdrum level of other old
married people. The fact that Blanche Leary was visiting his mother
during his unexpectedly long absence had not operated at all to hasten
his return to North Carolina. He had been having a very good time