the bank, but the young woman called his name.

"Mr. Bangs," she said.

He turned. "Did you--did you wish to speak to me?" he asked.

"Why--why, yes, I--Mr. Bangs, I--I want to ask a favor of you. I know,
Nelson, but what is the use, after all? We've done nothing to be ashamed
of. Mr. Bangs, my name is Hallett. My father is the keeper of the
lighthouse."

Galusha bowed. He had guessed her identity. Primmie had spoken of Lulie
Hallett in their conversation by the fence the day before.

"I am Lulie Hallett," she went on, "and--and Mr. Howard and I
are--are--"

"We're engaged to be married," broke in Howard. "The fact is, Mr. Bangs,
I came over on my bicycle this morning to meet Lulie here where--where
no one would see us. You see--well, Cap'n Jethro--her father, you
know--is prejudiced against me and--and so to save her trouble and--and
unpleasantness we--well, we--"

He was red and confused and stammering. Galusha was almost as much
embarrassed.

"Oh--oh, all right--ah--dear me, yes, of course," he said, hastily. "I
am very sorry I--I interrupted. I beg your pardon. Ah--good-morning."

"But, Mr. Bangs," Lulie pleaded, earnestly, "you won't misunderstand
this, will you? We meet in this way on my father's account. He is--you
see, he is not very well, and rather prejudiced and--and stubborn, I'm
afraid. Please don't think that--that--"

"Of course he won't," declared Howard. "Mr. Bangs won't think anything
that he shouldn't."

"Oh, no--no," stammered Galusha, nervously. "I am--I am SO sorry I
interrupted. I BEG your pardon."

"And Mr. Bangs," said Lulie, again, "I wonder if you will be kind enough
not to tell any one you saw us? This is a small place, East Wellmouth,
and people do talk--oh, dreadfully. If it got to father's ears
he--PLEASE don't speak of it, will you, Mr. Bangs?"

"Oh, no; no, indeed, Miss Hallett. You may depend upon me."

"I shall tell Martha Phipps myself the next time I see her. She is my
best friend, except--" with a becoming blush--"Nelson, and father, of
course--and she understands. I never have any secrets from her."

Galusha began to climb the bank. As his head rose above its upper edge
he stopped.

"Ah--dear me, there's some one coming in this direction," he said.

Howard started forward. "Coming? Coming here?" he cried. He sprang up
the bank beside Mr. Bangs and peered over its top.

"Oh, confound it!" he exclaimed. "Lulie, it's your father."

"Father? Coming here? Why, h