may have known the time
in your life when you were thankful for the sight of a dear friend's
back.

There was little said between our happy couple for many minutes after
the explosion; but like a certain lady, who long ago resided for a time
in a beautiful garden, the girl soon began to tempt the man: not to eat
apples, for Rita was one of the "women here and there" spoken of above.
She was pure and sinless as the light of a star. Her tempting was of
another sort. Had Rita been Eve, there would have been no fall.

After several efforts to speak, she said, "Now you will not go to New
York, will you?"

"Why, Rita," he responded confidently, "of course I'll go. There is more
reason now for my going than ever before."

"Why more now than ever before?" asked the girl.

"Because I want money that I may support you," he responded. "I'll tell
you a great secret, Rita, but you must promise you will never tell it to
any one."

"I promise--cross my heart," she answered, and Dic knew that wild horses
could not tear the secret from her girlish breast.

"I'm studying law," continued Dic. "Billy Little has been buying law
books for me. They are too expensive for me to buy. He bought me
'Blackstone's Commentaries'--four large volumes." The big words tasted
good in his mouth, and were laden with sweetness and wisdom for her
ears.

"I have read them twice," continued Dic. "He is going to buy 'Kent,' and
after that I'll take up works on pleading and special subjects. He has
consulted Mr. Switzer, and if I can save enough money to keep you and me
for two or three years in idleness, I am to go into Mr. Switzer's office
to learn the practice. It is a great and beautiful study."

"Oh, it must be, Dic," cried the girl, delightedly. "To think that you
will be a lawyer. I have always known that you would some day be a great
man. Maybe you will be a judge, or a governor, or go to Congress."

"That is hardly possible," responded Dic, laughing.

"Indeed it is possible," she responded very seriously. "Anything is
possible for you--even the presidency, and I'll help you. I will not be
a millstone, Dic. I'll help you. We'll work together--and you'll see
I'll help you."

Accordingly, she began to help him at once by putting her arm coaxingly
over his shoulder, and saying:--

"But if you are going to do all this you should not waste your time
leading horses to New York."

"But you see, Rita," he responded, "I can make a lot of money b