make
her one like it, that body sighed and shook her head and said that she
knew that that dress looked awful simple but that it wasn't as simple
as it looked and she knew better than to try and copy it.

Some one overheard and asked somebody else why Dolly Beatty should
happen to want a dress like that, and instantly somebody smiled and
whispered that Charlie Peters, the widower from North Road, was making
eyes at her and calling regularly.

So the ball was set rolling and soon everybody knew that Grandma
Wentworth had just had a letter from Tommy Dudley, saying that he was
doing so well out West on his homestead that he was building himself a
new house and was aiming to make Green Valley a visit next lilac time.

And Jimmy Sears, Milly Sears' second boy, was a sergeant in the army
and was having a wonderful time somewhere down in Panama. Milly had a
letter from him with photographs and was showing them around. Not only
did Jimmy give her news of himself but he wrote that John, the oldest
boy, was up in Canada and doing well. Jimmy was sending his mother and
sister Alice some wonderful laces and embroideries and Frank Burton
several kinds of strange fowl by a sailor friend from one of the
warships who was going home. So patient, long-suffering Milly Sears
was wholly happy for the first time in years.

And no sooner had all this news been digested than somebody discovered
a diamond ring on Clara Tuttle's left hand. So Clara was surrounded
and an explanation demanded. But before she could conquer her blushes
and stammer out her news Max Longman came in from another room and,
putting his arms about her, said, "Don't be afraid, girl of mine, I'm
here." And so everybody knew then that it was Max, after all, and not
Freddy Wilson.

Over near one of the big windows Steve Meckling was looking down at
Bonnie Don.

"Bonnie, when will you stop torturing me? When will you let me give
you a ring?"

Bonnie was Clara Tuttle's chum and she was watching Clara's face, the
light in Clara's eyes, the happy curve of her lips. It was a happiness
that made Bonnie's eyes wistful.

"Steve," she said softly, "would you always love me and be gentle with
me?"

At that big Steve caught his breath and put his hungry arms behind his
back out of temptation's way and said huskily, "Oh, Bonnie, girl, just
try me!"

So Bonnie raised her eyes and the big man was at peace.

Billy Evans was the last to arrive. He had to get all the