`` She 's an Oliver , '' said old John crustily , `` and that 's enough . '' And considering that he had settled the matter , John Ellis threw down his hoe and left the field in a towering rage . Burton hoed away savagely until his anger had spent itself on the weeds . Give up Madge -- dear , sweet little Madge ? Not he ! Yet if his father remained of the same mind , their marriage was out of the question at present . And Burton knew quite well that his father would remain of the same mind . Old John Ellis had the reputation of being the most contrary man in Greenwood . When Burton had finished his row he left the turnip field and went straight across lots to see Madge and tell her his dismal story . An hour later Miss Susan Oliver went up the stairs of her little brown house to Madge 's room and found her niece lying on the bed , her pretty curls tumbled , her soft cheeks flushed crimson , crying as if her heart would break . Miss Susan was a tall , grim , angular spinster who looked like the last person in the world to whom a love affair might be confided . But never were appearances more deceptive than in this case . Behind her unprepossessing exterior Miss Susan had a warm , sympathetic heart filled to the brim with kindly affection for her pretty niece . She had seen Burton Ellis going moodily across the fields homeward and guessed that something had gone wrong . `` Now , dearie , what is the matter ? '' she said , tenderly patting the brown head . Madge sobbed out the whole story disconsolately . Burton 's father would not let him marry her because she was an Oliver . And , oh , what would she do ? `` Do n't worry , Madge , '' said Miss Susan comfortingly .
`` I 'll soon settle old John XXXXX . ''
Burton Ellis Greenwood John Madge Oliver Susan hoe left spinster