yours!"
returned Vinnie, with sparkling eyes.

The youth took up a glass, threw himself back in a chair, and laughed.

"It's a very uncommon name,--Jenkins; no, Judkins; something like that.
Neighbors of the Bettersons; intimate friends of _theirs_, I mean. You
think I'm not acquainted out there? Ask Carrie! ask the boys, hi,
hi!"--with a giggle and a grimace, as he sipped the wine.

"You do really know my sister Caroline?" said Vinnie.

The youth set down his glass and stared.

"Your sister! I wondered who in thunder you could be, inquiring your way
to Betterson's; but I never dreamed--Excuse me, I wouldn't have played
such a joke, if I had known!"

"What joke?" Vinnie demanded.

"Why, there's no Jenkins,--Judkins,--what did I call their names? I just
wanted to have a little fun, and find you out."

Vinnie trembled with indignation. She started to go.

"But you haven't found _me_ out," he said, with an impudent chuckle.

"I've found out all I wish to know of you," said Vinnie, ready to cry
with vexation. "I've come alone all the way from my home in Western New
York, and met nobody who wasn't kind and respectful to me, till I
reached Chicago to-day."

The wretch seemed slightly touched by this rebuke; but he laughed again
as he finished his glass.

"Well, it was a low trick. But't was all in fun, I tell ye. Come, drink
your wine, and make up; we'll be friends yet. Won't drink? Here goes,
then!" And he tossed off the contents of the second glass. "Now we'll
take a little walk, and talk over our Betterson friends by the way."

She was already out of the room. He hastened to her side; she walked
faster still, and he came tripping lightly after her down the stairs.

Betwixt anger and alarm, she was wondering whether she should try to run
away from him, or ask the protection of the first person she met, when,
looking eagerly from the doorway as she hurried out, she saw, across the
street, a face she knew, and uttered a cry of joy.

"Jack! O Jack!"

It seemed almost like a dream, that it should indeed be Jack, then and
there. He paused, glanced up and down, then across at the girlish figure
starting toward him, and rushed over to her, reaching out both hands,
and exclaiming,--

"Vinnie Dalton! is it you?"

In the surprise and pleasure of this unexpected meeting, she forgot all
about the slim youth she was so eager to avoid a moment before. When she
thought of him again, and looked about her, he had disap