will permit the good
fortune of our chance meeting to be alone sponsor for our future
friendship. Will you not say yes?"

She looked at him with greater earnestness, her young face sobered by
the words spoken. Whatever else she may have seen revealed there, the
countenance bending slightly toward her was a serious, manly one,
inspiring respect, awakening confidence.

"And I do agree," she said, extending her hand in a girlish impulse.
"It will, at least, be a new experience and therefore worth the trial.
I will even endeavor to restrain my rebellious spirit, so that you will
not be unduly shocked."

He laughed, now placed entirely at his ease. "Your need of mercy is
appreciated, fair lady. Is it your desire to return to the hall?"

She shook her head positively. "A cheap, gaudy show, all bluster and
vulgarity. Even the dancing is a mere parody. I early tired of it."

"Then let us choose the better part, and sit here on the bench, the
night our own."

He conducted her across the porch to the darkest corner, where only
rifts of light stole trembling in between the shadowing vines, and
there found convenient seats. A moment they remained in silence, and
he could hear her breathing.

"Have you truly been at the hall," she questioned, "or were you merely
fibbing to awaken my interest?"

"I truly have been," he answered, "and actually have danced a measure
with the fair guest of the evening."

"With Phoebe Spencer! And yet you dare pretend now to retain an
interest in me? Lieutenant Brant, you must be a most talented
deceiver, or else the strangest person I ever met. Such a miracle has
never occurred before!"

"Well, it has certainly occurred now; nor am I in this any vain
deceiver. I truly met Miss Spencer. I was the recipient of her most
entrancing smiles; I listened to her modulated voice; I bore her off, a
willing captive, from a throng of despairing admirers; I danced with
her, gazing down into her eyes, with her fluffy hair brushing my cheek,
yet resisted all her charms and came forth thinking only of you."

"Indeed? Your proof?"

He drew the white satin fan forth from his pocket, and held it out
toward her with mock humility. "This, unbelieving princess.
Despatched by the fair lady in question to fetch this bauble from the
dressing-room, I forgot my urgent errand in the sudden delight of
finding you."

"The case seems fully proved," she confessed, laughingly, "and it is
surely not my d