But a day came that gave us courage.

About dusk one evening I was sitting on the little gallery in front of the Hinkle parlor, waiting for Ileen to come, when I heard voices inside.  She had come into the room with her father, and Old Man Hinkle began to talk to her.  I had observed before that he was a shrewd man, and not unphilosophic.

“Ily,” said he, “I notice there’s three or four young fellers that have been callin’ to see you regular for quite a while.  Is there any one of ’em you like better than another?”

“Why, pa,” she answered, “I like all of ’em very well.  I think Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Jacks and Mr. Harris are very nice young men.  They are so frank and honest in everything they say to me.  I haven’t known Mr. Vesey very long, but I think he’s a very nice young man, he’s so frank and honest in everything he says to me.”

“Now, that’s what I’m gittin’ at,” says old Hinkle.  “You’ve always been sayin’ you like people what tell the truth and don’t go humbuggin’ you with compliments and bogus talk.  Now, suppose you make a test of these fellers, and see which one of ’em will talk the straightest to you.”

“But how’ll I do it, pa?”

“I’ll tell you how.  You know you sing a little bit, Ily; you took music-lessons nearly two years in Logansport.  It wasn’t long, but it was all we could afford then.  And your teacher said you didn’t have any voice, and it was a waste of money to keep on.  Now, suppose you ask the fellers what they think of your singin’, and see what each one of ’em tells you.  The man that’ll tell you the truth about it’ll have a mighty lot of nerve, and ’ll do to tie to.  What do you think of the plan?”

“All right, pa,” said Ileen.  “I think it’s a good idea.  I’ll try it.”

Ileen and Mr. Hinkle went out of the room through the inside doors.  Unobserved, I hurried down to the station.  Jacks was at his telegraph table waiting for eight o’clock to come.  It was Bud’s night in town, and when he rode in I repeated the conversation to them both.  I was loyal to my rivals, as all true admirers of all Ileens should be.

Simultaneously the three of us were smitten by an uplifting thought.  Surely this test would eliminate Vesey from the contest.  He, with his unctuous flattery, would be driven from the lists.  Well we remembered Ileen’s love of frankness and honesty—­how she treasured truth and candor above vain compliment and blandishment.

Linking arms, we did a grotesque dance of joy up and down the platform, singing “Muldoon Was a Solid Man” at the top of our voices.

That evening four of the willow rocking-chairs were filled besides the lucky one that sustained the trim figure of Miss Hinkle.  Three of us awaited with suppressed excitement the application of the test.  It was tried on Bud first.

“Mr. Cunningham,” said Ileen, with her dazzling smile, after she had sung “When the Leaves Begin to Turn,” “what do you really think of my voice?  Frankly and honestly, now, as you know I want you to always be toward me.”