pping of Janzoon's tattered and
dingy jacket; he sighed in solitude over the floating grace of her
jaunty blue petticoat. She thanked her stars that her brothers were not
like the Kolps, and he growled at his sister because she was not like
the Boumans. His presence made her harsh and unfeeling, and the very
sight of her made him gentle as a lamb. Of course they were thrown
together very often. It is thus that in some mysterious way we are
convinced of error and cured of prejudice. In this case, however, the
scheme failed. Annie detested Janzoon more and more at each encounter;
and Janzoon liked her better and better every day.

He killed a stork, the wicked old wretch! she would say to herself.

She knows I am strong and fearless, thought Janzoon.

How red and freckled and ugly he is! was Annie's secret comment when she
looked at him.

How she stares and stares! thought Janzoon. Well, I am a fine,
weather-beaten fellow, anyway.

"Janzoon Kolp, you impudent boy, go right away from me!" Annie often
said. "I don't want any of your company."

Ha! Ha! laughed Janzoon to himself. Girls never say what they mean. I'll
skate with her every chance I can get.

And so it came to pass that the pretty maid would not look up that
morning when, skating homeward from Amsterdam, she became convinced that
a great burly boy was coming down the canal toward her.

Humph! if I look at him, thought Annie, I'll--

"Good morrow, Annie Bouman," said a pleasant voice.

How a smile brightens a girl's face!

"Good morrow, Master Hans, I am right glad to meet you."

How a smile brightens a boy's face!

"Good morrow, again, Annie. There has been a great change at our house
since you left."

"How so?" she exclaimed, opening her eyes very wide.

Hans, who had been in a great hurry and rather moody, grew talkative and
quite at leisure in Annie's sunshine.

Turning about, and skating slowly with her toward Broek, he told the
good news of his father. Annie was so true a friend that he told
her even of their present distress, of how money was needed and how
everything depended upon his obtaining work, and he could find nothing
to do in the neighborhood.

All this was not said as a complaint but just because she was looking at
him and really wished to know. He could not speak of last night's bitter
disappointment, for that secret was not wholly his own.

"Good-bye, Annie!" he said at last. "The morning is going fast, and I
must haste