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"Goodness me! I'm not thinking of marrying Mr. Dunke's millions.

The only thing is that I don't have a Croesus to exhibit every

day at my chariot wheels. It's horrid of course, but I have a

natural feminine reluctance to surrendering him all at once. I

don't object in the least to trampling on him, but somehow I

don't feel ready for his declaration of independence."

"Oh, if that's all!" her friend smiled.

"That's quite all."

"Perhaps you prefer Texans who come from the Panhandle."

Mrs. Collins happened to be looking straight at her out of her

big brown eyes. Wherefore she could not help observing the pink

glow that deepened in the soft cheeks.

"He hasn't preferred me much lately."

Nellie knitted her brow in perplexity. "I don't understand.

Steve's been away, too, nearly all the time. Something is going

on that we don't know about."

"Not that I care. Mr. Neill is welcome to stay away."

Her new friend shot a swift slant look at her. "I don't suppose

you trample on him much."