in the pouring
rain. She knew this as well as he. She knew, too, that he had the ring
in his pocket, though he had carefully refrained from referring to it in
any way.

He led her to a secluded nook behind a pillar in the little parlor. The
hotel was deserted. They had the building almost to themselves. A log
fire crackled in the open fireplace, and he drew a settee close. The
wind had moderated and the rain was pouring down in straight streams,
rolling in soft music on the roof.

He drew the ring from his pocket. "Well, Kiddo, I got it. The fellow
said this was all right."

He held the tiny gold band before her shining eyes.

"Slip it on!" she whispered.

"Which one?"

"This one, silly!"

She extended her third finger, as he pressed the ring slowly on.

"Seems to me a mighty little one and a mighty cheap one, but he said it
was the thing."

"It's all right, dear," she whispered. "Kiss me!"

He pressed his lips to hers and held them until she sank back and lifted
her hand in warning.

"Be careful!"

"Whose afraid?" Jim muttered, glancing over his shoulder toward the
door. "Now tell me what day--tomorrow?"

"Nonsense, man!" she cried. "Give me time to breathe----"

"What for?"

"Just to realize that I'm engaged--to plan and think and dream of the
wonderful day."

"We're losing time----"

"We'll never live these wonderful hours over again, dear."

Jim's face fell and his voice was pitiful in its funereal notes: "Lord,
I thought the ring settled it."

"And so it does, dear--it does-----"

"Not if that long-legged spider that took dinner with us the other night
gets in her fine work. I'll bet that she handed me a few when you got
home?"

Mary was silent.

"Now didn't she?"

"To the best of her ability--yes--but I didn't mind her silly talk."

"Gee, but I'd love to give her a bouquet of poison ivy!"

"We had an awful quarrel----"

"And you stood up for me?"

"You know I did!"

"All right, I don't give a tinker's damn what anybody says if you stand
by me! In all this world there's just you--for me. There's never been
anybody else--and there never will be. I'm that kind."

"And I love you for it!" she cried, with rapture pressing his hand in
both of hers.

"What did she say about me, anyhow?"

"Nothing worth repeating. I've forgotten it."

Jim held her gaze.

"It's funny how you love anybody the minute you lay eyes on 'em--or hate
'em the same way. I wanted to choke her the minu