st fatal trip around the circle. A moment before the
circle had been too small, but now it seemed interminable, and poor
Rita found herself in Dic's strong arms before she was halfway home. She
almost hated him for catching her. She did not take into consideration
the facts that she had invited him and that it would have been ungallant
had he permitted her to escape, but above all, she did not know the
desire in his heart. She had surprised and disappointed him by entering
the game; but since it was permitted, he would profit by the surprise
and snatch a joyful moment from his disappointment. But another surprise
awaited him. When a young lady was caught a certain degree of
resistance, purely for form's sake, was expected, but usually the young
lady would feel aggrieved, or would laugh at the young man were the
resistance taken seriously. When Dic caught Rita there was one case, at
least, where the resistance was frantically real. She covered her face
with her hands and supposed he would make no effort to remove them. She
was mistaken, he acted upon the accepted theories of the game. She was a
baby in strength compared with Dic, and he easily held her hands while
he bent her head backward till her upturned face was within easy reach.

"Don't kiss me," she cried.

There was no sham in her words, and Dic, recognizing the fact, released
her at once and she walked sullenly to a chair. According to the rude
etiquette of the time, she had insulted him.

There had been so many upheavals in the game that the trouble between
Dic and Rita brought it to a close.

Dic was wounded, and poor Rita felt that now she had driven him from her
forever. Her eyes followed him about the room with wistful longing, and
although they were eloquent enough to have told their piteous little
story to one who knew anything about the language of great tender eyes,
they spoke nothing but reproachfulness to Dic. He did not go near her,
but after a time she went to him and said:--

"I believe I will go home; but I am not afraid to go alone, and you need
not go with me--that is, if you don't want to."

"I do want to go with you," he responded. "I would not let you ride by
yourself. Even should nothing harm you, the howling of a wolf would
frighten you almost to death."

She had no intention of riding home alone. She knew she would die from
fright before she had ridden a hundred yards into the black forest, so
she said demurely:--

"Of course, if