rt, could not recognize it in others, least of all was she able to
see it in her own mother, whose transcendent virtues had been dinned
into her ears ever since she had possessed those useful organs. Out of
her confiding trustfulness came a deadly fear for her mother's life. She
fell on her knees and cried: "Forgive me, mother dear, forgive me. I was
wrong. I'll write whatever you wish."

This surrender, I know, was weak in our heroine; but her words restored
her mother to life and health, and Rita rejoiced that she had seen her
duty and had performed it in time.

Justice was soon again in equilibrium, and Rita, amid a flood of tears,
wrote to Williams, "I shall be pleased to see you," and he came.

She did not treat him cordially, though she was not uncivil, and
Williams thought her reticence was due to modesty,--a mistake frequently
made by self-sufficient men. The girl felt that she was bound by her
letter, and that she could not in justice mistreat him. It was by her
invitation he had come. He could not know that she had been forced to
write the letter, and she could not blame him for acting upon it. She
was relieved that he attempted no flattery, and felt that surely her
lack of cordiality would prevent another visit. But she was mistaken. He
was not a man easily rebuffed.

A fortnight later Mrs. Bays announced to her daughter the receipt of a
letter from Mr. Williams, stating that he would be on hand next Saturday
evening.

"He is trying to induce his father to loan us the money," said Mrs.
Bays, "and your father and I want you to be particularly kind to him.
Your father and I have suffered and worked and toiled for you all your
life. Now you can help us, and you shall do so."

"Mother, I can't receive him. I can't talk to him. It will be wicked. It
would not be honest; I can't, I can't," sobbed poor Rita. "I don't know
much, but I know it is wrong for me to receive visits from Mr. Williams
when there can be nothing between--between--"

"Why can't there be anything between you and Williams, girl? Why?"
demanded Mrs. Bays.

"There are many reasons, mother," returned the weeping girl, "even if it
were not for Dic--"

"Dic!" screamed the old woman, and an attack of heart trouble at once
ensued, when Rita was again called upon to save her mother's life.

Thus Williams came the third time to visit Rita, and showed his
ignorance of womankind by proposing marriage to a girl who was unwilling
to listen. He was