that's a good girl!" He gave the can a push and it rolled away, with
much banging and jangling.

"First, let me ask your advice. The old men of Ryeville have sent for
me to come and talk with them. It seems they want me to run for the
office of county attorney. They say they are sure their candidate will
be elected and I believe they can control the politics of the county
from their hotel porch. I'll accept their proposition if you will tell
me to."

"Why should I decide?"

"Oh, Judith, can't you see that life isn't worth living in Louisville
or anywhere else if you are not with me? I have been loving you from
the minute I first saw you standing on the platform swinging your milk
can. In fact, I believe I have been loving you from the time I saw you
on the trolley that day I got back home. Why I didn't love you when
you were such a spunky little kid, tramping around peddling fish and
rabbits and blackberries, I don't know. I must have been a blind fool
or I would have. Anyhow, I love the memory of you when you were a
little girl. Can't you care for me a little, Judith?"

"I believe I can."

"And you won't mind putting the _nor_ back on your name?"

"No, Jeff. I won't mind."

Long the lovers sat under the great tree. The seven o'clock trolley
whistled for the next to the last stop, but Jeff and Judith did not
hear it. Fortunately for the hungry men, Uncle Billy had seen from
afar the young people seeking the shade of the beech grove and when
Judith did not return to the house he had astutely reasoned that
matters of import were detaining her.

"Here, Mandy, give me that there basket er victuals an' I'll make
tracks fer the platform. Miss Judy an' Marse Jeff air a co'tin' an'
when folks air a co'tin' time ain't mo'n the win' blowin'."

Miss Ann received the news of the engagement with happy tears and Mrs.
Buck said that it was Judith's business and she had always known what
she wanted from the time she was born. If she wanted Jeff Bucknor,
Mrs. Buck reckoned it was all right. He seemed a likely enough young
man, but she hoped he knew how to save, because Judith did not.

The old men of Ryeville were satisfied when Jeff Bucknor told them he
would run for the office of county attorney if they so wished it. At
the same time he broke to them the news of his engagement. The
veterans exchanged sly glances and laughed delightedly. Little did the
young man dream that they had planned this political coup for the sole