o," said Jessie, simply.

"Come on, then, with me," he said, seizing her arm and fairly dragging
her along.

Discretion seemed the better part of valor to Jessie. She thought it
would not be wise to offend the young man; and, to tell the truth, she
was rather glad to have some one to pilot her along through the terrible
snow-drifts.

"Let me tell you something," said Winans, without waiting for her
answer. "I have taken quite a liking to you, Jessie Bain--this is
between you and me--and I hope very much that the feeling will be
reciprocated, little girl. I'll be only too glad to escort you to and
from the theater every night, if you like. Don't let any of the girls of
this company talk you into the belief that they have any claim on me.

"You must not think it strange that I took an interest in you, little
Jessie, from the first moment I saw you," continued Winans, pressing the
girl's hand softly, as they pushed on bravely through the terrible
snow-drifts. "There was something about you very different from the rest
of the girls whom I have met."

"I trust you will not talk so to me, Mr. Winans," said Jessie.

"But I must," he insisted. "I must tell you all that is in my heart.
Surely you can not blame a fellow so very much for being unfortunate
enough to fall desperately in love with you!"

He had spoken the words eagerly, and it never occurred to him that they
had been uttered so loudly that any one passing might have heard them.

Suddenly from out the shadow of an arched door-way sprang a woman, who
planted herself directly in the snowy path before them.

"Stop!" she cried. "Don't dare advance a step further!" and quick as a
flash she drew a heavy riding-whip from the folds of her cloak. Once,
twice, thrice it cut through the snow-laden air, and fell upon Winans'
defenseless head.

Smarting with pain, he dropped Jessie's arm and sprang forward, and
attempted to wrest the whip from the infuriated young woman's hands.

"Take that! and that! and that!" she cried, again and yet again; and
with each word the blows rained down faster and faster upon his face and
hands.

There was but one way to escape, and that was in ignominious flight.

"So," cried Mally Marsh, as she turned to Jessie "this is all the heed
you paid to my warning, is it? If I gave you your just deserts, I would
thrash you within an inch of your life, for attempting to take my lover
away from me! Now listen to what I have to say, girl, and ta