Jim and Ken enjoyed their hasty visit and then took their departure to catch their train going west. When Mrs. Maynard and Barbara dispensed tea, the three young men, John, Tom and Paul, had to enter into service for the hostess; but they would greatly have preferred to enjoy their time as each inclined--John alone with Anne in the conservatory, Tom and Polly talking art, and Paul making merry with Eleanor.
Barbara, who a year ago would have resented oblivion for herself, now smiled contentedly and gazed upon a huge solitaire.
"Bob, shall we announce it?" whispered her mother.
"No, they do not know Percival, and, moreover, not one of these people appreciate his social standing."
So the young people now gathered about Mrs. Maynard's tea-table were deprived (so Bob thought) of the greatest event of the past social season--her engagement to one of the most aristocratic and wealthiest eligibles on the market, Percival Weston.
Barbara twirled her solitaire smilingly, nor cared that her Percival was bald and diminutive, past the prime in life, and not over-brilliant. Had he not been the catch at Newport the previous Summer? And had he not attached himself to her as soon as she appeared in the Adirondack Camp presided over by the famous society leader of New York?
"Oh, Nolla! Isn't this great after old New York?" cried Polly, as they were all jostled in the big ranch-wagon driven by Mr. Brewster, as it rumbled over the trail to Pebbly Pit.
"We-all think it's great, Poll; but wait till you see what your going to New York did to the old Pit! No one to blame for it but yourself," laughed her father.
"We heard there was a row of buildings down behind the Imps, and that a fine roadway was constructed through the Devil's Causeway," said Polly, eagerly.
"But no one told you how John and Tom came here as soon as college closed, and brought a railroad man with them to see about building a spur from Bear Forks to the valley at the foot of Grizzly Slide. It's twenty miles nearer Denver than Oak Creek, so the company agreed to risk the work if Pebbly Pit would guarantee a certain amount of travel and freight over the road."
"Well--did you, Daddy?" asked Polly, eagerly.
"Tom Latimer did. Agreed to put up bonds for same."