rtinence--it was only
formality."

"I see," she said, approvingly, and began to find him a trifle tiresome.

Meanwhile he had confidently skipped to another subject. "Phosphates and
nitrogen are what those people need for their farms. Now if you prepare
your soil--do your own mixing, of course--then begin with red clover,
and plough--"

Her gray eyes were so wide open that he stopped short to observe them;
they were so beautiful that his observation continued until she colored
furiously. It was the last straw.

"The fire is out, I think," she said, calmly, rising to her feet; "my
duty here is ended, Mr. Burleson."

"Oh--are you going?" he asked, with undisguised disappointment. She
regarded him in silence for a moment. How astonishingly like that boy he
was--this six-foot--

"Of course I am going," she said, and wondered why she had said "of
course" with emphasis. Then she whistled to her mare.

"May I ride with you to the house?" he asked, humbly.

She was going to say several things, all politely refusing. What she did
say was, "Not this time."

Then she was furious with herself, and began to hate him fiercely, until
she saw something in his face that startled her. The mare came up; she
flung the bridle over hastily, set foot to metal, and seated herself in
a flash. Then she looked down at the man beside her, prepared for his
next remark.

It came at once. "When may we ride together, Miss Elliott?"

She became strangely indulgent. "You know," she said, as though
instructing youth, "that the first proper thing to do is to call upon my
father, because he is older than you, and he is physically unable to
make the first call."

"Then by Wednesday we may ride?" he inquired, so guilessly that she
broke into a peal of delicious laughter.

"How old are you, Mr. Burleson? Ten?"

"I feel younger," he said.

"So do I," she said. "I feel like a little girl in a muslin gown." Two
spots of color tinted her cheeks. He had never seen such beauty in human
guise, and he came very near saying so. Something in the aromatic
mountain air was tempting her to recklessness. Amazed, exhilarated by
the temptation, she sat there looking down at him; and her smile was
perilously innocent and sweet.

"Once," she said, "I knew a boy--like you--when I wore a muslin frock,
and I have never forgotten him. He was extremely silly."

"Do you remember only silly people?"

"I can't forget them; I try."

"Please don't try any more,