women sweeten it.
Personally, I would rather sweeten the earth than salt it; but a sweet
man is like a pokeberry--sugarish, nauseating and unhealthful. My love
for sweetness has made me a failure."

"You are not a failure, Billy Little. You are certainly of the salt of
the earth," insisted Dic.

"A man fails when he does not utilize his capabilities to their limit,"
said Billy, philosophically. "He is a success when he accomplishes all
he can. The measure of the individual is the measure of what should
constitute his success. His capabilities may be small or great; if he
but use them all, he is a success. A fishing worm may be a great success
as a fishing worm, but a total failure as a mule. Bless me, what a
sermon I have preached about nothing. I fear I am growing garrulous,"
and Billy looked into the fire and hummed Maxwelton's braes.

That evening Dic went to call on Rita and made no pretence of wishing to
see Tom. That worthy young man had served his purpose, and could never
again be a factor in Dic's life or courtship. Mrs. Bays received Dic
coldly; but Mr. Bays, in a half-timid manner, was very cordial. Dic paid
no heed to the coldness, and, after talking on the porch with the family
for a few minutes, boldly asked Rita to walk across the yard to the log
by the river. Rita gave her mother a frightened glance and hurried away
with Dic before Justice could assert itself, and the happy pair sought
the beloved sycamore divan by the river bank.

"In the midst of all my happiness," began Rita, "I'm very unhappy
because I, in place of Patsy Clark, did not liberate you. I always
intended to tell the truth. You must have known that I would."

"I never even hoped that you would not. I knew that when the time should
come you would not obey me," returned Dic.

"In all else, Dic, in all else." There was the sweet, all-conquering
humility of which Billy had spoken.

"In all else, Rita? Do you mean what you say?"

"Yes."

"I will put you to the test at once. For your sake and my own I should
go with Sampson to New York, and I want you to release me from my
promise. I would not ask you did I not feel that it is an opportunity
such as I may never have again. It is now July; I shall be back by the
middle of November, and then, Rita, you will go home with me, won't
you?" For answer the girl gently put her hand in his. "And you will
release me from my promise?"

She nodded her head, and after a short silence added: "I fea