of laughter to her eyes.

"Not this time," she answered.

"Your parties have been a sort of continuous performance this summer,
haven't they?" he persisted, hoping to win her to a more
conversational mood.

"And the summer is almost over,--did you ever know such a short
vacation?"

"It's been the jolliest one I've ever had. And it is going to mean a
lot to me all my life, Blue Bonnet."

They walked on in silence for a few minutes. Then Alec asked--"Do you
remember the morning we first spoke of following this stream?"

"Yes,--and do you remember how we wondered what we would talk about on
our next jaunt by the Woodford brook?"

He nodded. "I remember everything; that was the first day I told you I
wasn't likely to be in Woodford next spring. It was only a day-dream
then,--isn't it funny how things have come out?"

"Funny? Alec, you are the queerest boy. You've taken to talking in
riddles lately, and I--I reckon I'm pretty slow at guessing riddles.
We may as well have it out right now. I've been wanting to have a talk
with you."

"Same here," returned Alec. "What's the matter, anyway? You've not
been a bit like yourself the last few days."

"Don't you really know, Alec?" Blue Bonnet met his puzzled eyes very
soberly.

"I honestly don't, Blue Bonnet."

"And haven't you felt the least little bit guilty about letting me
write that letter to your grandfather?"

"Guilty?" Alec's tone expressed unaffected amazement. "Do you mean I
ought to have written it myself? I'd have done it if you had hinted
that you'd rather have me. Why didn't you say so?"

"You seemed so anxious to have me do it."

"And so I was. It seemed only right and proper that you should be the
first to suggest the proposition. You're the owner of the Blue Bonnet
ranch."

"What has that to do with it?"

"Well, I should think it had everything to do with it. I couldn't very
well invite myself, could I?"

"Invite yourself? Oh, dear, now you're talking in riddles again."

"Well, Blue Bonnet, after you had invited me to spend two months on
the ranch, it certainly took more courage than I possessed to suggest
extending my visit for a year or two. You can see how much better it
was for the suggestion to come from you. Grandfather has fallen right
in with it and is making all arrangements with Mr. Ashe right now."

Blue Bonnet's eyes grew round with astonishment. "Do you mean to tell
me that you are going to stay on the ranch a year or two?"