rs that drank beer, Apollos that
seemed to have been born turning wonderful somersaults. And always at
her side was her man, her well-beloved, to explain and to protect. He
was careful of her, careful as a man is careful who carries a glass of
water filled to overflowing without losing a drop. And if little by
little he explained what he called "life" to her, it was with delicacy,
with gravity--even, as it seemed, with sorrow.

His kisses filled her at first with a wonderful tenderness; at last with
desire, so that her eyes narrowed and she breathed quickly. At this
point in their relations Barstow put off his pleading, cajoling manner,
and began, little by little, to play the master. In the matter of dress
and deportment he issued orders now instead of suggestions; and she only
worshipped him the more.

When he knew in his heart that she could refuse him nothing he proposed
marriage. Or rather, he issued a mandate. He had led her to a seat after
a romping dance. She was highly flushed with the exercise and the
contact, a little in disarray, breathing fast, a wonderful look of
exaltation and promise in her face. He was white, as always, methodic,
and cool--the man who arranges, who makes light of difficulties, who
gives orders; the man who has money in his pocket.

"Kid," he whispered, "when the restaurant closes to-morrow night I am
going to take you to see a friend of mine--an alderman."

She smiled brightly, lips parted in expectation. She knew by experience
that he would presently tell her why.

"You're to quit Linnevitch for good," he said. "So have your things
ready."

Although the place was so crowded that whirling couples occasionally
bumped into their knees or stumbled over their feet, Barstow took her
hand with the naive and easy manner of those East Siders whom he
affected to despise.

"You didn't guess we were going to be married so soon, did you?" he
said.

She pressed his hand. Her eyes were round with wonder.

"At first," he went on, "we'll look about before we go to
house-keeping. I've taken nice rooms for us--a parlor and bedroom suite.
Then we can take our time looking until we find just the right
house-keeping flat."

"Oh," she said, "are you sure you want me?"

He teased her. He said, "Oh, I don't know" and "I wouldn't wonder," and
pursed up his lips in scorn; but at the same time he regarded her out of
the corners of roguish eyes. "Say, kid," he said presently--and his
gravity betoken