in affection, the period of his
visits changed from weekly to fortnightly, and then to monthly.
Meantime, Williams was adroitly plying his suit; and by convincing Rita
that he had abandoned the role of lover for that of friend, he succeeded
in regaining her confidence. As agent for his father's products, he had
an office at Indianapolis, and large sums of money passed through his
hands. He and Tom became great cronies, for it was Williams's intention
to leave no stone unturned, the turning of which might assist him in
winning Rita. His passion for the girl became almost desperate at times,
and her unmistakable coldness added fuel to the flame. He well knew she
did not love him; but, like many another mistaken man, he believed he
could teach her that great lesson if she were his wife, and could not
believe that she entertained either a serious or a lasting sentiment for
so inferior a person as Diccon Bright. Williams had invariably found
smooth sailing with other young ladies; and head winds in Rita's case
caused the harbor to appear fairer than any other for which he had ever
trimmed his sails.

Soon after Rita's entrance into Indianapolis society she became popular
with the fair sex and admired of the unfair; that condition, in my
opinion, being an unusual triumph for any young woman. To that end
Williams was of great assistance. A rich, cultured society man of Boston
was sure to cut a great figure among the belles and mothers of a small
frontier town. The girl whom Williams delighted to honor necessarily
assumed importance in the eyes of her sisters. In most cases they would
have disliked her secretly in direct ratio to the cube of their outward
respect; but Rita was so gentle and her beauty was so exquisite, yet
unassertive, that the girl soon numbered among her friends all who knew
her. There were the Tousy and the Peasly girls, the Wright girls and the
Morrisons, to say nothing of the Smiths, Browns, and Joneses, many of
whom were the daughters of cultured parents. If any one nowadays
believes that Indianapolis--little spot in the wilderness though it
was--lacked refined society during the thirties, he is much mistaken.
Servants were scarce, and young ladies of cultured homes might any day
be called upon to cook the dinner or the supper, and afterward to "do
up" the work; but they could leave the kitchen after preparing a good
meal, walk into the parlor and play Beethoven and Mozart with credit to
themselves and th