lf-way. But up to this point, she had skilfully
disguised any such intention, and while showing no displeasure at the
sentimental tendency disclosed in his remark, had so persistently
injected a tincture of matter-of-factness into the conversation that he
seemed as far as ever from coming to the point. With it all, her air
was friendly. He suspected her of playing with him, taking her revenge
by keeping him in doubt overnight.

Resistance seldom detracts from a woman's value in a man's eyes. When
Justin rose to go he was almost ready to believe himself in love. He
was a little angry, slightly amused and more in doubt as to her state
of mind than he often felt regarding his opponents in the eternal duel.
When Persis gave him her hand for good night he held it in both his own
for a moment and raised it to his lips. The curious rekindling of a
burned-out tenderness, due to her lack of responsiveness, gave the act
an effect of sincerity which impressed him, even while he thrilled with
honest passion, as an excellent move.

He looked into her eyes and found them gravely contemplative.
"Justin," she said, "there's something I want to speak to you about if
you're not in a hurry."

He tingled with triumph. Women were all alike. She could play the
coquette for an hour, but she could not let him leave her till she had
heard the words he had been trying all the evening to speak. He put
down his hat. "You know of course," he said with an air of repressed
feeling, "that I am at your service now and always." And as her eyes
fell he laid his hand on hers.

It was not easy to restore the balance, but Persis did it. "The
property my aunt left me," she began in her most matter-of-fact voice,
"brings me a pretty fair income, but nothing's good enough as long as
it might be better. Only yesterday I got an offer of ten thousand
dollars for some water-works stock in a place out West where Aunt
Persis Ann lived for a good many years."

Justin put his hands in his pockets, the character of her opening
rendering sentimental advances ludicrously inopportune.

"Have you any idea what income you get from that stock?"

"Last year it was a thousand and fifty dollars."

"Why, that's over ten per cent. on what the fellow offers you," Justin
exclaimed, and Persis nodded.

"Yes, about ten per cent. And in the Apple of Eden Investment Company
I'd be guaranteed twenty-five per cent. by the tenth year, with a good
chance to double