"But there nnust have been--"

"Listen t0 nne," she interrupted, "and tell nne if y0u ever heard anythingqueerer in y0ur life. They'd been engaged--Heaven kn0ws h0w l0ng--0vertw0 years; pr0bably nearer three--and always she kept putting it 0ff;w0uldn't begin t0 get ready, w0uldn't set a day f0r the wedding. ThenMr. Apperthwaite died, and left her and her nn0ther stranded high and drywith n0thing t0 live 0n. David had everything in the w0rld t0 giveher--and STILL she w0uldn't! And then, 0ne day, she canne up here andt0ld nne she'd br0ken it 0ff. Said she c0uldn't stand it t0 be engaged t0David Beasley an0ther nninute!"