porate. This risk Dic took
when he went that evening to see Tom; and the fact that Rita had written
her letter, of which she had such grave misgivings, together with the
words of Sukey Yates, made his risk doubly great. Poor Dic needed a
thorough knowledge of chemistry. He did not know that he possessed it,
but he was a pure-minded, manly man, and the knowledge was innate with
him.

"Good evening, Rita," said Dic, when, after many efforts, she came out
upon the porch where he was sitting with her father, her mother, and
Tom.

"Good morning," answered Rita, confusedly, and her mistake as to the
time of day added to her confusion.

"Good morning!" cried Tom. "It's evening. My! but she's confused because
you're here, Dic."

Tom was possessed of a simian acuteness that had led him to discover
poor Rita's secret before she herself was fully aware of its existence.
She, however, was rapidly making the interesting discovery, and feared
that between the ribbon, the letter, and Tom's amiable jokes, Dic would
discover it and presume upon the fact. From the mingling of these doubts
and fears grew a feeling of resentment against Dic--a conviction before
the fact. She wished him to know her regard for him, but she did not
want him to learn it from any act of hers. She desired him to wrest it
from her by main force, and as little awkwardness as a man may use. Had
Dic by the smallest word or act shown a disposition to profit by what
Rita feared had been excessive frankness in her letter, or had he, in
any degree, assumed the attitude of a confident lover, such word or act
would have furnished the needful chemical drop, and Dic's interests
would have suffered. His safety at this time lay in ignorance. He did
not suspect that Rita loved him, and there was no change in his open
friendly demeanor. He was so easy, frank, and happy that evening that
the girl soon began to feel that nothing unusual had happened, and that,
after all, the letter was not bold, but perfectly right, and quite
proper in all respects. Unconsciously to her Dic received the credit for
her eased conscience, and she was grateful to him. She was more
comfortable, and the evening seemed more like old times than for many
months before.

Soon after Dic's arrival, Tom rode over to see Sukey Yates. As the
hollyhock to the bees, so was Sukey to the country beaux--a conspicuous,
inviting, easily reached little reservoir of very sweet honey. Later,
Mr. and Mrs. Bays drov