Summary

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the population in Elmwood Springs has more than doubled. Katrina convinces Lordor that they need to build up the town, including hiring a doctor and teacher. The new teacher is named Lucille Beemer and she teaches all the children in one schoolhouse and lives with the Nordstroms.

Gustav Tildmore, the oldest child in the schoolhouse, stays back in school because he has a crush on Lucille. Gustav eventually tells Lucille that he likes her, but Lucille thinks it would be wrong to date a student (even though he is only a year younger than her). He, then, moves out to California for work. Lucille moves to a city boarding house, and thinks about Gustav a lot. After a year or so, Gustav calls one night. The connection is bad, and she cannot...