"Ladies," she exclaimed, and Jimmie paused to listen, "I am honored--more so than you can guess--at the distinction conferred upon me. This afternoon you have seen fit to make me one of your leaders in a most important movement for civic betterment--an honor never before accorded a woman in this city--and I need not assure you that you shall not regret your choice. As a member of the Civic Betterment Committee of Loudon, I shall do my duty." ("I bet she will!" commented Jimmie, _sotto voce_.) "Again I thank you!" went on Aunt Rachel. "There's a work for you and for me now to do, and--" she paused impressively, "we will do it." ("I'll bet on you every time, Auntie," commented Jimmie to himself.) "Jimmie Atherton, what in the world are you doing?" whispered an exasperated voice. "Hurry, Jimmie, hurry--do!" urged Jennie. "Dinner is almost ready to serve, and you haven't even made the first move to dress. Hurry, Jimmie, please!" And Jimmie did. He fairly sprinted into his clothes, appearing presently fully clad and good to look upon. "Bet you a nickel Jennie couldn't have done that," he reflected, complacently. "Women never can get a move on them, where clothes are concerned." That was the best evening Aunt Rachel had ever spent. She was the center of attraction; she had found a mission--not a desultory one, but one far-reaching in scope, so it seemed to her; and like a war-horse, she was after the charge. Jennie's plans went through without a hitch. Aunt Rachel became, not only a member of the Committee on Civic Betterment, but, as well, its head and, in due season, mayor of the little city itself. Under her active management, Loudon became noted as a model city of its size, one good to look upon and good to live in. Crime fled, or scurried to cover, and Aunt Rachel blossomed like a rose. One day when Jimmie came home something seemed to please him greatly. "What do you think, Jennie," he said, "Aunt Rachel is going to be married! Yes, she is! I've got it on the best of authority--the groom himself." "Who?" gasped Jennie. "Why, Jimmie, she just HATES men! She's always said they were only a necessary evil." "Yes, I know," smiled Jimmie, "that's what she used to say, but she'd never met Jacob Crowder then." "Jacob Crowder!" exclaimed Jennie. "Why, Jimmie, he's as rich as Croesus, and he's always hated women as much as Aunt Rachel has hated men!" "Yes," said Jimmie, "but that was before he met Aunt Rachel. He has been her righthand man for some time now, and they've seemed to hit it off pretty well. Guess they'll get along all right in double harness." "When the girls and I steered Aunt Rachel into politics," said Jennie, "little we thought where it would all end. I'm glad, glad, though! Aunt Rachel is really splendid, but I've always thought she was suffering from something. Now I know what--it's ingrowing ambition. She will have all she can do now to take care of her own home and we won't see her so often."