At the Western Union office, Jane sat down to write her message to Aunt Min and Breck went to the desk. Jane heard him ask if any telegrams for Allen Breckenridge had been received. The clerk gave him two after the usual frantic search through the files. Over the first one he read Jane saw him knot his brows into a frown and she was much relieved when the frown changed into a broad grin at the perusal of the second message.
“Allen Breckenridge,” Jane thought, “what a peach of a name. I always thought Breck was a mighty little name for such a big man. I wish to goodness he would tell me why he is doing what he is. And I wish I wasn’t so awfully much interested in him.”
“Are you finished now?” he smiled down at her, “because if you are, let’s get out on the street. All the men off the boats are wandering around, looking at the barometers in the different shop windows, just as if they were interested in the weather now as when on board their schooners. Poor chaps, I reckon they are at a loss for something to do. These New Englanders don’t know the gentle art of loafing like the Southerners do.”
“Why Breck,” laughed Jane. “How can you, when you know I am from old Kentuck’? Aren’t you ashamed?”
“But you are different, you know, certainly different from my notion of the southern girl. I had always thought of them as lying around in hammocks and eating chocolates during the day and refusing heartbroken young men’s proposals most of the night.”
“But they don’t refuse all the young men apparently because I had to give exactly nine wedding presents this spring. And, besides, I eat an awful lot of candy,” Jane objected.
“Anyway, I’ll say it again. You are different. Do you mind if I compliment you in rather a horsy way? You handle yourself better than any girl I ever saw. I would give a lot to see you on a horse too, by the way.”
“Thanks, Breck! That is one of the nicest things I ever had said to me and, of course, I don’t mind, why should I?”
“Oh, just the difference in our positions,” Breck answered, looking at her very keenly with his clear gray eyes.