e thought she would run, then
she remembered her bare feet and she sat down on the grass, covering
her ankles with her skirt. At first she wanted to cry, then she grew
indignant as he came tipsily toward her and sat down by her side.

She was used to the smell of whiskey on the breath. Its slightest
odor she knew instantly. To her it was the smell of death.

"Got to the Gov'nor's private bottle to-night," he said familiarly,
"and took a couple of cocktails. Going over to see Nellie, but
couldn't resist such beauties as"--he pointed to her feet.

"It was mean of you to slip upon me as you did," she said. Then she
turned the scorn of her eyes on him and coolly looked him over, the
weak face, the boyish, half funny smile, the cynical eyes,--trying to
be a man of the world and too weak to know what it all meant.

The Conway spirit had come to her--it always did in a critical
moment. She no longer blushed or even feared him.

"How, how," she said slowly and looking him steadily over, "did I
ever love such a thing as you?"

He moved up closer. "You will have to kiss me for that," he said
angrily. "I've kissed you so often I know just how to do it," and he
made an attempt to throw his arms around her.

She sprang away from him into the spring branch, standing knee deep
in the water and among the water-cresses.

He arose hot with insolence: "Oh, you think you are too good for me
now--now that the Gov'nor has set his heart on you. Damn him--you
were mine before you were his. He may have you, but he will take you
with Cassius' kisses on your lips."

He sprang forward, reached over the rock and seized her by the arm.
But she jerked away from him and sprang back into the deeper water of
the spring. She did not scream, but it seemed that her heart would
burst with shame and anger. She thought of Ophelia, and as she looked
down into the water she wiped away indifferently and silently the
cool drops which had splashed up into her face, and she wondered if
she might not be able to drop down flat and drown herself there, and
thus end it all.

He had come to the edge of the rock and stood leering drunkenly down
on her.

"I love you," he laughed ironically.

"I hate you," she said, looking up steadily into his eyes and moving
back out of his reach.

The water had wet her dress, and she stooped and dipped some of it up
and bathed her hot cheeks.

"I'll kiss you if I have to wade into that spring."

"If I had a brother,-