“Well, it ain't no business o' mine,” Hoag smiled knowingly, “but I hope you won't keep the fellow in torment any longer than you can help. He sorter confides in me, you know, an' every time I'm in Atlanta he throws out hints like he is in the dark an' can hardly see his way clear. He is a man with a long business head on 'im, an' he certainly knows what he wants in the woman line. He's powerfully well thought of in bankin' circles, an', as you know, his folks are among the best in the South.” Ethel, frowning slightly, was avoiding her uncle's curious gaze. “I shall not marry any man,” she said, quite firmly, “until I know that I really love him.” “Love a dog's hind foot!” Hoag sneered. “Looky' here, Eth', take it straight from me. That is a delusion an' a snare. Many an' many a good-hearted gal has spoiled her whole life over just that highfalutin notion. They've tied the'rselves to incompetent nincompoops with low brows an' hair plastered down over their eyes--chaps who couldn't make a decent livin'--and let men pass by that was becomin' financial powers in the land. Ed Peterson is of the right stripe. He ain't no fool. He knows you've got property in your own name an' that I've set somethin' aside for you, an' he's jest got sense enough to know that it is as easy to love a woman with money as without.” “How does he know?” Ethel's lips were drawn tight; there was a steady light in her eyes as she stood looking toward the mountain. “How does he know that you intend, or even ever thought of--” “Oh, you see, he has all my papers down thar,” Hoag explained. “He keeps 'em for me in the bank vault. He knows all about my business, and naturally he'd be on to a thing like that. I hain't never intimated that I'd coerce you in any way, but he knows I look favorably on the outcome. In fact, I've told 'im a time or two that, as far as I was concerned, he had a clean right-o'-way. He's sure I am on his side, but he don't seem at all satisfied about you. He's a jealous cuss, an' as much as I like him, I have to laugh at 'im sometimes.” “Jealous!” Ethel exclaimed, with a lofty frown of vague displeasure.