Colton was just crossing the road from
Eldredge's store, a good sized brown paper parcel in her hand.

Ever since the day when Captain Jed had given me his warning I had been
strengthening my resolution. The remark of Mrs. Colton's which I had
overheard on the night of the fishing trip, although it revealed to me,
as I believed, my real standing in the minds of my neighbors, whatever
they might pretend when in my company, was, after all, only a minor
detail. I knew that I must break off my acquaintance with this girl. By
all that was sensible and sane it must be broken off. I must not, for
my own sake, continue to meet her, to see her and speak with her. No;
I would avoid her if I could, but, at all events, I would break off the
association, even if I were obliged to offend her, deliberately offend
her, to accomplish my purpose. I swore it; and then I swore at myself
for being so weak-minded as to need to swear. That I should be afraid
of a girl, a mere girl, ten years younger than I, who, as the casual
pastime of an idle summer, had chosen to pretend an interest in me! I
was not afraid of her, of course; I was afraid of myself. Not that I was
in danger of falling in love with her--that idea was too ridiculous
to be even funny. But she was becoming a disturbing influence in my
life--that was it, a disturbing influence--and I must not permit myself
to be disturbed.

So now, as I saw the disturbing influence crossing the road in my
direction, my first thought was to retreat to the bank. But it was
too late to retreat; she had seen me, and she bowed pleasantly as she
approached.

"Good afternoon," she said.

I bowed and admitted that the afternoon was a good one, conscious as I
did so that Sim Eldredge had followed her to the door of his store and
was regarding us with marked interest.

She exhibited the package. "I am acting as my own errand boy, you see,"
she said, smiling. "It was such a beautiful day that I refused to send
any one for this, or even to ride. I did not realize that a few yards
of muslin would make such a bundle. Now I must carry it, I suppose, in
spite of appearances."

I believed I saw an opportunity to escape.

"I am going directly home," I said. "Let me carry it down for you. I
will send it over to your house by Lute."

"Oh, no thank you. I could not think of troubling Mr. Rogers. But do you
really want to carry it? You may, for a while. We will take turns. I
am going directly home, too; and