er and Checkers in their sudden misfortune. At
the table Pert tried to eat for appearance's sake, but her efforts
ended in mere pretense. Sadie noticed it, and insisted that after
dinner she go to a room on the cool side of the house and "take a nap."
To this Pert objected. "I can never sleep during the day," she said;
"the longer I lie, the wider awake I get. I am really all right," she
added, smiling bravely, "only my head aches--a very little."

"We'll soon fix that," exclaimed Arthur. "I 've been troubled with
headache and sleeplessness lately, myself, and I 've struck a remedy
that beats anything you ever saw; knocks a headache, and makes you
sleep like an infant. It's perfectly harmless, too--guaranteed.
Excuse me a minute; I'll get the box."

Pert felt too miserably weak and apathetic to further object to Sadie's
suggestion or Arthur's remedy; so, under her cousin's ministering
guidance, she retired to an upper room and prepared herself with what
comfort she could to rest, while Sadie opened the windows and drew the
shades.

"Now, Pert," said Sadie, "take one of these powders with a little
water, and I think you 'll feel better right away. I 'll leave the box
here on the table, near the bed, and if the first one does n 't cure
your headache and put you to sleep, take another. Now is there
anything more you want, dear? If there is, just call; I 'll leave the
door the least bit open." A sudden impulse prompted her, as she was
going out, to return and kiss Pert fondly, and though not an uncommon
thing between them, still both wondered for a moment afterward at the
unusual tenderness and feeling that each had unconsciously put into the
embrace.

Left alone, Pert tried to compose her mind and go to sleep; but in
spite of herself her brain dwelt anxiously upon Checkers in Little
Rock, and upon what her father had said to her. Half an hour passed
and still her fancy teemed, as she restlessly tossed from side to side.
She felt herself growing nervous, and her ear upon the pillow told her
that her heart was beating rapidly.

"At least my head feels a great deal better," she murmured, raising
herself upon her elbow; "now if I could only get to sleep I believe I
should wake up quite myself again. Perhaps another powder will do it;
I 'm afraid of them, though. Still, Arthur says they 're perfectly
harmless--I 'll take just one more. Checkers would n 't like it; he
told me never to take any medicine." She