The most interesting feature, perhaps, of the varied life of the missionary party was a rivalry between Young and Edwards for the elder Miss Wells.  Usually Nell’s attractiveness appealed more to men than Kate’s; however, in this instance, although the sober teachers of the gospel admired Nell’s winsome beauty, they fell in love with Kate.  The missionaries were both under forty, and good, honest men, devoted to the work which had engrossed them for years.  Although they were ardent lovers, certainly they were not picturesque.  Two homelier men could hardly have been found.  Moreover, the sacrifice of their lives to missionary work had taken them far from the companionship of women of their own race, so that they lacked the ease of manner which women like to see in men.  Young and Edwards were awkward, almost uncouth.  Embarrassment would not have done justice to their state of feeling while basking in the shine of Kate’s quiet smile.  They were happy, foolish, and speechless.

If Kate shared in the merriment of the others—­Heckewelder could not conceal his, and Nell did not try very hard to hide hers—­she never allowed a suspicion of it to escape.  She kept the easy, even tenor of her life, always kind and gracious in her quaint way, and precisely the same to both her lovers.  No doubt she well knew that each possessed, under all his rough exterior, a heart of gold.

One day the genial Heckewelder lost, or pretended to lose, his patience.

“Say, you worthy gentlemen are becoming ornamental instead of useful.  All this changing of coats, trimming of mustaches, and eloquent sighing doesn’t seem to have affected the young lady.  I’ve a notion to send you both to Maumee town, one hundred miles away.  This young lady is charming, I admit, but if she is to keep on seriously hindering the work of the Moravian Mission I must object.  As for that matter, I might try conclusions myself.  I’m as young as either of you, and, I flatter myself, much handsomer.  You’ll have a dangerous rival presently.  Settle it!  You can’t both have her; settle it!”

This outburst from their usually kind leader placed the earnest but awkward gentlemen in a terrible plight.

On the afternoon following the crisis Heckewelder took Mr. Wells to one of the Indian shops, and Jim and Nell went canoeing.  Young and Edwards, after conferring for one long, trying hour, determined on settling the question.

Young was a pale, slight man, very homely except when he smiled.  His smile not only broke up the plainness of his face, but seemed to chase away a serious shadow, allowing his kindly, gentle spirit to shine through.  He was nervous, and had a timid manner.  Edwards was his opposite, being a man of robust frame, with a heavy face, and a manner that would have suggested self-confidence in another man.

They were true and tried friends.

“Dave, I couldn’t ask her,” said Young, trembling at the very thought.  “Besides, there’s no hope for me.  I know it.  That’s why I’m afraid, why I don’t want to ask her.  What’d such a glorious creature see in a poor, puny little thing like me?”