n, and Joe Bullitt--three young gentlemen in a condition of
solemn tensity. Miss Parcher saw William as he emerged from the
station building, and she waved her parasol in greeting, attracting the
attention of the others to him, so that they: all turned and stared.

Seventeen sometimes finds it embarrassing (even in a state of deep
emotion) to walk two hundred feet, or thereabout, toward a group of
people who steadfastly watch the long approach. And when the watching
group contains the lady of all the world before whom one wishes to
appear most debonair, and contains not only her, but several rivals,
who, though FAIRLY good-hearted, might hardly be trusted to neglect such
an opportunity to murmur something jocular about one--No, it cannot be
said that William appeared to be wholly without self-consciousness.

In fancy he had prophesied for this moment something utterly different.
He had seen himself parting from her, the two alone as within a cloud.
He had seen himself gently placing his box of candy in her hands, some
of his fingers just touching some of hers and remaining thus lightly in
contact to the very last. He had seen himself bending toward the sweet
blonde head to murmur the few last words of simple eloquence, while
her eyes lifted in mysterious appeal to his--and he had put no other
figures, not even Miss Parcher's, into this picture.

Parting is the most dramatic moment in young love, and if there is one
time when the lover wishes to present a lofty but graceful appearance it
is at the last. To leave with the loved one, for recollection, a final
picture of manly dignity in sorrow--that, above all things, is
the lover's desire. And yet, even at the beginning of William's
two-hundred-foot advance (later so much discussed) he felt the heat
surging over his ears, and, as he took off his hat, thinking to wave it
jauntily in reply to Miss Parcher, he made but an uncertain gesture of
it, so that he wished he had not tried it. Moreover, he had covered less
than a third of the distance, when he became aware that all of the
group were staring at him with unaccountable eagerness, and had begun to
laugh.

William felt certain that his attire was in no way disordered, nor in
itself a cause for laughter;--all of these people had often seen him
dressed as he was to-day, and had preserved their gravity. But, in spite
of himself, he took off his hat again, and looked to see if anything
about it might explain this mirth, wh