. John lived in that direction also, and would be on his
way to see her, for his mother had asked Elizabeth to spend the day with
her. She would ask John to come for her trunk and then have him take her
to Susan Hornby's house. Aunt Susan would welcome her with open arms. She
was covered with perspiration when she met her lover, who was hot and
uncomfortable also, and had been cursing every mile of the shadeless
Kansas road. John's relief was so great at meeting her a couple of miles
on the way that he did not inquire why she was there at that hour till she
was seated beside him.

"But your father can't do anything to you," he objected when she had
outlined her plan of going to Aunt Susan's to stay till the wedding.
"Everybody knows that you have left there and You'll have to explain
things and get into a scandal."

Without going into details, Elizabeth insisted that he drive on at once
and get her trunk before her father and the family should get home from
church.

John Hunter argued the matter.

"If you leave home," he said slowly, refusing to drive on, "people will
talk, and it isn't to be considered."

There was a pause. Should she explain the case fully? It could not be
done. John could not be made to understand. Elizabeth knew that even in
the primitive community in which she had been brought up a man would be
filled with disgust at the idea of striking a full-grown woman on any sort
of provocation, and that a man reared as John Hunter had been reared would
be alienated not only from her family but from her.

Caught like a rat in a trap, Elizabeth Farnshaw let her future husband
study her curiously, while she deliberated and cast about for some means
of getting his approval to her scheme without villifying her parents by
telling the whole truth.

"I'll be nearer you, and Aunt Susan's always glad to have me," she said
coaxingly.

It was a good bit of argument to put forth at that moment. The sun poured
his heat out upon them in scalding fierceness, and John Hunter had cursed
his luck every mile he had covered that morning. He had been accustomed to
reach her in fifteen minutes, and the suggestion that she go back to the
old place began to look more reasonable, yet he hesitated and was
reluctant to let a breath of gossip touch his future wife. Whether
Elizabeth were right or wrong did not enter into his calculations.

It looked as if his consent was not to be obtained. She could not go
back.

"I'm not g