Melanctha Herbert always liked Jem Richards better.  Things soon began to be very strong between them.

Jem was more game even than Melanctha.  Jem always had known what it was to have real wisdom.  Jem had always all his life been understanding.

Jem Richards made Melanctha Herbert come fast with him.  He never gave her any time with waiting.  Soon Melanctha always had Jem with her.  Melanctha did not want anything better.  Now in Jem Richards, Melanctha found everything she had ever needed to content her.

Melanctha was now less and less with Rose Johnson.  Rose did not think much of the way Melanctha now was going.  Jem Richards was all right, only Melanctha never had no sense of the right kind of way she should be doing.  Rose often was telling Sam now, she did not like the fast way Melanctha was going.  Rose told it to Sam, and to all the girls and men, when she saw them.  But Rose was nothing just then to Melanctha.  Melanctha Herbert now only needed Jem Richards to be with her.

And things were always getting stronger between Jem Richards and Melanctha Herbert.  Jem Richards began to talk now as if he wanted to get married to her.  Jem was deep in his love now for her.  And as for Melanctha, Jem was all the world now to her.  And so Jem gave her a ring, like white folks, to show he was engaged to her, and would by and by be married to her.  And Melanctha was filled full with joy to have Jem so good to her.

Melanctha always loved to go with Jem to the races.  Jem had been lucky lately with his betting, and he had a swell turn-out to drive in, and Melanctha looked very handsome there beside him.

Melanctha was very proud to have Jem Richards want her.  Melanctha loved it the way Jem knew how to do it.  Melanctha loved Jem and loved that he should want her.  She loved it too, that he wanted to be married to her.  Jem Richards was a straight decent man, whom other men always looked up to and trusted.  Melanctha needed badly a man to content her.

Melanctha’s joy made her foolish.  Melanctha told everybody about how Jem Richards, that swell man who owned all those fine horses and was so game, nothing ever scared him, was engaged to be married to her, and that was the ring he gave her.

Melanctha let out her joy very often to Rose Johnson.  Melanctha had begun again now to go there.

Melanctha’s love for Jem made her foolish.  Melanctha had to have some one always now to talk to and so she went often to Rose Johnson.

Melanctha put all herself into Jem Richards.  She was mad and foolish in the joy she had there.