ght--"

"Oh, Dic," she softly interrupted, still smoothing the grass with her
foot, "I am not offended; it is you."

Had the serene yellow moon burst into a thousand blazing suns, Dic could
not have been more surprised.

"Rita, do you mean it? Do you really mean it?" he asked.

"Yes," she whispered.

"And were you afraid I was offended?"

"Yes," again very softly.

"And did you care?"

"Yes," with an emphatic nod of the head.

"And do you--" he paused, and she hesitatingly whispered:--

"Yes." She did not know what his question would have been; but whatever
he wished to ask, "Yes" would be her answer, so she gave it, and Dic
continued:--

"Do you wish me to remain for a few minutes?"

This time the "Yes" was given by a pronounced drooping of the head, but
she took his hand for an instant that she might not possibly be
misunderstood.

Dic hitched his horse to the fence, and, turning to Rita, said:--

"Shall we go over to the log by the river?"

"Yes." Ah, how many yeses she had for him that night, and yes is a sweet
word.

When they were seated on the log the girl waited a reasonable time for
Dic to begin the conversation. He remained silent, and soon she
concluded to take the matter temporarily in her own hands. He had begun
a moment before, but had stopped; perhaps with a little help he would
begin again.

"I was sure you were angry," she said, "and I thought you would not
forgive me this time. I have so often given you cause to dislike me."

"Oh, Rita, I don't believe you know that you could not make me dislike
you. When I thought that--that you did not care for me, I was so grieved
that life seemed almost worthless, but I love you so dearly, Rita--" but
that was just what he had determined never, never to tell her. He
stopped midway in his unintentional confession, surprised that the girl
did not indignantly leave him. Her heart beat wofully. Breathing
suddenly became harder work than churning. She sat demurely by his side
on the log, only too willing to listen, with a dictionary full of
"Yeses" on the end of her tongue, and he sat beside her, unable for the
moment to think. After a long pause she determined to give him a fresh
start.

"I was in the wrong, Dic, and if you wish I'll apologize to you before
all who saw me. But I was frightened. I should not have gone into the
game. It may be right for other girls--I would not say that it is not
right--but for me, I know it would be a sin--a re