ning of
the brain would account for a fellow's falling in love with Marietta
Hoag."

A little later, as they were parting, she said, "Nelson, you're an
awfully dear fellow to be so thoughtful and forbearing and--and patient.
Sometimes I think I shouldn't let you wait for me any longer."

"Let me! How are you going to stop me? Of course I'll wait for you.
You're the only thing worth waiting for in the world. Don't you know
that?"

"I know you think so. But, oh, dear, it seems sometimes as if there
never would be any end to the waiting, and as if I had no right to
ask--"

"There, there! Don't YOU begin talking about rights. There's going to be
an end and the right kind of end. No Chinese spooks are going to keep us
apart, my girl, not if I can help it."

"I know. But can you help it?... I must go now. Yes, I must, or father
will wonder where I am and begin looking for me. He thinks I am over at
Martha Phipps', you know. Good-night, dear."

"Good-night, girlie. Don't worry, it's coming out all right for us, I'm
sure of it. This new job of mine is the first step in that direction.
There! Kiss me and run along. Good-night."

They kissed and parted, Lulie to hasten back along the path to the
light and Nelson to stride off in the opposite direction toward South
Wellmouth. Neither of them saw two figures which had, the moment before,
appeared upon the summit of the knoll about thirty yards from the edge
of the bluff and directly behind them. But the pair on the knoll saw
them.

Martha Phipps had been standing by the window of the sitting room in her
home looking out. She had been standing there for some minutes. Galusha
Bangs, in the rocking-chair by the center table, was looking at her.
Suddenly Martha spoke.

"I declare!" she exclaimed. "I do believe that's the loveliest moon I
ever saw. I presume likely," she added, with a laugh, "it's the same
moon I've always seen; it just looks lovelier, that's all, seems to me.
It will be beautiful to look at from the top of the bluff, the light on
the water, I mean. You really ought to walk over and see it, Mr. Bangs."

Galusha hesitated, rubbed his spectacles, and then was seized with an
inspiration.

"I--I will if you will go, too," he said.

Martha turned to see if he was in earnest.

"Mercy me!" she exclaimed. "Why should I go? I've seen that moon on that
same water more times than I like to count."

"But you haven't seen it--ah--recently. Now have you?"

"Why,