y been playing tag, as it were. The
game wasn't really on. A little skirmishing on either side was in
order. But Agatha's last words were the call to action. They roused
the ghost of some old Hambleton ancestor who meant not to be beaten.
Jim squared himself in the middle of the path, touched Agatha's
shoulder with the lightest, most respectful finger, and requested: "But
I would ask you, as a special favor, to stay a few minutes longer."

Jim's tone left Agatha no choice. She sat down again on the pine
stump, but she could not meet Jimmy's eyes. He stood a few feet away
from her. When he spoke, his voice was firm and steady, ringing with
earnestness. There was no doubt now but that he was in the game for
all he was worth.

"Agatha, you shall not turn me down like this. Wait until you know me
better, and know yourself better. You've had no time to think this
matter over, and it involves a good deal, I admit. But we have lived
through a good deal together in these few weeks. I'm here; I'm here to
stay. You can't say now, dear, that you care nothing for me--can you?"

[Illustration: "You shall not turn me down like this."]

"What is the use of all this, I ask! You will always be my friend, my
rescuer, to whom I am eternally grateful."

Jimmy emitted a sound halfway between "Shucks" and "Damn" and swung
impatiently clean round on his heels.

"Grateful be hanged! I don't want anybody to be grateful. I want you
to love me--to marry me. Why, Agatha," he argued boyishly, his hopes
rising as he saw her face soften a little, "you're mine, for I plucked
you out of the sea. I had to have you. I guess I knew it that Sunday,
only it was 'way off, somewhere in the back of my brain. You're a
dream I've always loved. Just as this old house is. You're the woman
I could have prayed for. I'll do, I'll be, anything you wish; I'll
change myself over, but oh, don't say you won't have me. Agatha,
Agatha, you don't know how much you mean to me!"

Before this speech was finished, James, according to the good old
fashion, was down on his knees before his lady, and had imprisoned one
of her hands. Stoic she was, not to yield! Her eyes had a suspicious
moistness, as she shook her head.

"You will always be the most gallant, unselfish friend I have ever
known. But--"

"But--what?"

"Marry you I can not."

"Why not?"

"I can not marry anybody."

Then Jimsy said a disgraceful thing. "You kissed me once. W