Eleanor Prency was the handsomest girl in all Bruceton.

Indeed, she so far distanced all other girls in brilliancy and manners, as well as in good looks, that no other young woman thought of being jealous of her.
Among her sex she occupied the position of a peerless horse or athlete among sporting men; she was "barred" whenever comparisons were made.
As she was an only child, she was especially dear to her parents, who had bestowed upon her every advantage which their means, intelligence, and social standing could supply, and she had availed herself of all of them apparently to the fullest extent.

She was not lacking in affection, sense, self-control, and a number of virtues which some girls entirely satisfactory to their parents possessed in less measure.
Nevertheless the judge and his wife were deeply anxious about their daughter's future.

She was good--as girls go; she attended regularly the church of which the family, including herself, were members; she had no bad habits or bad tastes; her associates were carefully selected; and yet the judge and his wife spent many hours, which should have been devoted to sleep, in endeavoring to forecast her future.
It was all a matter of heredity.

At middle age the judge and his wife were fully deserving of the high esteem in which they were held by the entire community.