ied there in about
a year and a half. It may be he's better off." Foresta now paused an
instant. Shaking off the spell of sadness she said, "But that's not what
I started out to tell you."

"I know it isn't," said the young woman, smiling sadly.

"Don't be too sure you know what I have to tell," said Foresta,
laughing. "It is really something funny."

"I am listening," said the young woman.

"One night Bud went to church with me. You know our church is called the
'high falutin' church,' and a good many of the poorer and plain people
don't like to go there. Well, Bud isn't a highly educated boy and he
doesn't like our church for anything. He likes the preacher all right.
He will hardly ever go in and sit with me. He walks about out doors till
church is out, then comes back home with me. You are tired listening to
my foolishness, aren't you?" asked Foresta.

"Not at all. I am interested," said the young woman reassuringly.

"Well, Bud is a sort of a bashful boy. Dave was just the opposite. Dave
was full of nerve. Bud kept a 'hemming and hawing' trying to, trying to
er----"

"Well, just say that he was trying to," said the young woman, and the
two laughed heartily.

"Dave kept after Bud to speak out, but Bud was afraid that he would
spoil matters," resumed Foresta. "They rigged up a scheme to find out
where I stood without Bud's risking too much. Now, remember, Bud and
Dave looked just alike, almost. Many a time I have taken one for the
other. When little they often got scolded and beaten for one another.
Their father never could tell them apart. Bud came to church with me
one night, and he and Dave agreed that Dave was to carry me home without
my knowing it was Dave. Dave was to make out that he was Bud and make a
dash of some sort to find out how Bud stood with me. On our way home
Dave didn't talk much. That helped to fool me, because Bud and I have
gone along not saying a word; only looking at each other now and then.
But that night Dave, whom I was taking to be Bud, was unusually quiet.
And I thought then that he was meditating something. When Dave got home
with me, he stood between me and the gate and said, 'You must pay toll
to get in.' I knew he was asking me to kiss him. 'If you don't let me by
I will call mama,' I said, mostly for fun, for I knew that Bud thought
mama was against him. You ought to have seen Dave stepping aside to let
me in. I didn't say another word, but walked into the yard and upon the