n his eagerness to reach the girl's
side. The doctor smiled at the young man's impetuosity, bent his head
to Lucy, and turned to where Jane was standing awaiting the arrival of
her other guests.

The young man extended his hand. "I'm Bart Holt," he exclaimed; "you
haven't forgotten me, Miss Lucy, have you? We used to play together.
Mighty glad to see you--been expecting you for a week."

Lucy colored slightly and arched her head in a coquettish way. His
frankness pleased her; so did the look of unfeigned admiration in his
eyes.

"Why, of course I haven't forgotten you, Mr. Holt. It was so nice of
you to come," and she gave him the tips of her fingers--her own eyes
meanwhile, in one comprehensive glance, taking in his round head with
its closely cropped curls, searching brown eyes, wavering mouth, broad
shoulders, and shapely body, down to his small, well-turned feet. The
young fellow lacked the polish and well-bred grace of the doctor, just
as he lacked his well-cut clothes and distinguished manners, but there
was a sort of easy effrontery and familiar air about him that some of
his women admirers encouraged and others shrank from. Strange to say,
this had appealed to Lucy before he had spoken a word.

"And you've come home for good now, haven't you?" His eyes were still
drinking in the beauty of the girl, his mind neither on his questions
nor her answers.

"Yes, forever and ever," she replied, with a laugh that showed her
white teeth.

"Did you like it at school?" It was her lips now that held his
attention and the little curves under her dimpled chin. He thought he
had never seen so pretty a mouth and chin.

"Not always; but we used to have lots of fun," answered the girl,
studying him in return--the way his cravat was tied and the part of his
hair. She thought he had well-shaped ears and that his nose and
eyebrows looked like a picture she had in her room upstairs.

"Come and tell me about it. Let's sit down here," he continued as he
drew her to a sofa and stood waiting until she took her seat.

"Well, I will for a moment, until they begin to come in," she answered,
her face all smiles. She liked the way he behaved towards her--not
asking her permission, but taking the responsibility and by his manner
compelling a sort of obedience. "But I can't stay," she added. "Sister
won't like it if I'm not with her to shake hands with everybody."

"Oh, she won't mind me; I'm a great friend of Miss Jane's. Please go