spicions an absolute certainty.

"Now, children," Persis settled herself and slipping an arm deftly
behind Thad's back, she took Diantha's slim hand in hers, "I never was
one to be a kill-joy. You drive round as long as you feel like it and
don't mind me, no more'n if I was a coach dog running on behind."

"Thad!" exclaimed Diantha in peremptory fashion. "I'm going to tell
her."

"Just as you think best," replied young Mr. West, who bade fair to find
this a convenient stock phrase.

Diantha's hand gave that of Persis a tremulous pressure, suggestive of
fluttering nerves. "Miss Persis," she said in a thrilling
half-whisper, "we're going to be married, Thad and I."

Persis returned the squeeze. "I thought as much, dearie. I've seen
you look at him and him look at you, and that made it plain enough to a
body with eyes. And I'm glad to hear it. For all I've missed it
myself, I believe marriage is about the best thing there is. Thad's
got his faults and you've got yours, and it stands to reason you're
going to do better at mastering 'em if each helps the other, than if
you struggle along alone. There's nothing easy about marriage except
for lazy folks and cowards, but things that are hard are the only ones
that pay. Some people will tell you it's a risk, and so it is, but
most things are when you come to that. I believe in getting married
and in early marriages, too, and so I'm glad to know that some day you
and Thad--"

Thad West gave his horse a quite unnecessary cut with the whip. In the
voice of a dying zephyr, Diantha interrupted.

"You don't understand, Miss Persis. It isn't some day. It's to-day.
We're running off to be married."

"Oh!" Persis' hold on the fluttering little hand tightened. Her
silence seemed to imply reflection.

"Well, that puts a different face on it. I suppose it's because I
think so much of marriage that I hate to have it mixed up with things
that are underhanded. My idea of husband and wife, you see, is just
two folks helping each other to make a better man and a better woman,
instead of backing each other up in lying--"

"Lying!" exploded Thad. "Who's going to do any lying?"

"Diantha's not eighteen yet, and you haven't got her parents'
permission for her to marry you. The only way you can manage it is to
lie about her age and start your new life with that hanging over you.
And all because you can't wait one little year. Looks like Thad's
afraid he will change