d an air of distinction in any company. Here
she shone like a jewel.

Keith's heart went out to her. At sight of her his youth appeared to
flood over him again. Keith fancied that she looked weary, for every now
and then she lifted her head and glanced about the rooms as though
looking for some one. A sense of protection swept over him. He must meet
her. But how? She did not appear to know any one. Finally he determined
on a bold expedient. If he succeeded it would give him a chance to
recover himself as nothing else could; if he failed he could but fail.
So he made his way over to her. But it was with a beating heart.

"You look tired. Won't you let me get you a chair?" His voice sounded
strange even to himself.

"No, thank you; I am not tired." She thanked him civilly enough, but
scarcely looked at him. "But I should like a glass of water."

"It is the only liquid I believe I cannot get you," said Keith. "There
are three places where water is scarce: the desert, a ball-room, and the
other place where Dives was."

She drew herself up a little.

"But I will try," he added, and went off. On his return with a glass of
water, she took it.

As she handed the glass back to him, she glanced at him, and he caught
her eye. Her head went up, and she flushed to the roots of her
brown hair.

"Oh!--I beg your pardon! I--I--really--I don't--Thank you very much. I
am very sorry." She turned away stiffly.

"Why?" said Keith, flushing in spite of himself. "You have done me a
favor in enabling me to wait on you. May I introduce myself? And then I
will get some one to do it in person--Mrs. Lancaster or Mrs. Wentworth.
They will vouch for me."

The girl looked up at him, at first with a hostile expression on her
face, which changed suddenly to one of wonder.

"Isn't this Gordon Keith?"

Gordon's eyes opened wide. How could she know him?

"Yes."

"You don't know me?" Her eyes were dancing now, and two dimples were
flitting about her mouth. Keith's memory began to stir. She put her head
on one side.

"'Lois, if you'll kiss me I'll let you ride my horse,'" she said
cajolingly.

"Lois Huntington! It can't be!" exclaimed Keith, delighted. "You are
just so high." Keith measured a height just above his left watch-pocket.
"And you have long hair down your back."

With a little twist she turned her head and showed him a head of
beautiful brown hair done up in a Grecian knot just above the nape of a
shapely little neck.

"