Noon
His home life was little known , but there was some story about an engagement at Poonah the previous warm weather . Noon was rich , and he cared for the girl ; but she did not return the feeling . In fact , there was some one else . It appears that the girl 's people were ambitious and poor , and that Noon had promised large settlements . At all events , the engagement was a known affair , and gossips whispered that Noon knew about the some one else , and would not give her up . He was , I know , thought badly of by some , especially by the elders , who had found out the value of money as regards happiness , or rather the complete absence of its value . However , the end of it all lay on the sheet beneath the pines , and watched me with such persistence that I was at last forced to go to him .