“It is beautiful,” acknowledged Gaston looking thoughtfully at the letter.
“I wish you had a new suit, Charlie.”
“I wouldn’t mind it myself, if I had the money. But clothes don’t interest me much, just so I’m fairly decent.”
“I ’ll loan you the money, if you will promise me to devote yourself faithfully to Sallie.”
“Never. I ’ll not sell my interest in all those acres of pretty girls just for one I never saw and a suit of clothes. No thanks. I’m going down there with a premonition I may find Her of whom I’ve dreamed. They say that town is full of beauties.”
“You’re so conceited. That’s all the more reason you should look your best.”
“I don’t care so much about looks. I’m going to do my best, whatever I look.”
“Oh, you know you’re good looking and you don’t care,” said his foster mother with pride.
On the 10th of May Independence was in gala robes. The long rows of beautiful houses, with dark blue grass lawns on which giant oaks spread their cool arms, were gay with bunting, and with flowers, flowers everywhere! Every urchin on the street and every man, woman and child wore or carried flowers.
The reception committee met Gaston at the depot on the arrival of the excursion train that ran from Ham-bright. He was placed in an open carriage beside a handsome chattering society woman, and drawn by two prancing horses, was escorted to the hotel, where he was introduced to the distinguished old soldiers of the Confederacy.