chimed in so with the thought in his mind at the
moment.

"No, I am not; but I would like to be."

He came near saying a great deal more; but the girl's eyes were fixed on
him so innocently that he for a moment hesitated. He felt it would be
folly, if not sacrilege, to go further.

Just then there was a step on the walk, and the young man Keith had
seen, Dr. Locaman, came up the steps. He was a handsome man, stout, well
dressed, and well satisfied.

Keith could have consigned him and all his class to a distant and torrid
clime.

He came up the steps cheerily and began talking at once. He was so glad
to see Keith, and had he heard lately from Dr. Balsam?--"such a fine
type of the old country doctor," etc.

No, Keith said; he had not heard lately. His manner had stiffened at
the young man's condescension, and he rose to go.

He said casually to Lois, as he shook hands, "How did you hear the piece
of news you mentioned?"

"Mrs. Nailor told me. You must tell me all about it."

"I will sometime."

"I hope you will be very happy," she said earnestly; "you deserve to
be." Her eyes were very soft.

"No, I do not," said Keith, almost angrily. "I am not at all what you
suppose me to be."

"I will not allow you to say such things of yourself," she said,
smiling. "I will not stand my friends being abused even by themselves."

Keith felt his courage waning. Her beauty, her sincerity, her
tenderness, her innocence, her sweetness thrilled him. He turned back to
her abruptly.

"I hope you will always think that of me," he said earnestly. "I promise
to try to deserve it. Good-by."

"Good-by. Don't forget me." She held out her hand.

Keith took it and held it for a second.

"Never," he said, looking her straight in the eyes. "Good-by"; and with
a muttered good-by to Dr. Locaman, who stood with wide-open eyes gazing
at him, he turned and went down the steps.

"I don't like that man," said the young Doctor. This speech sealed his
fate.

"Don't you? I do," said Lois, half dreamily. Her thoughts were far from
the young physician at that moment; and when they returned to him, she
knew that she would never marry him. A half-hour later, he knew it.

The next morning Lois received a note from Keith, saying he had left for
his home.

When he bade Mrs. Lancaster good-by that evening, she looked as if she
were really sorry that he was going. She walked with him down the
verandah toward where his carriage awaited him, a