ation; but an
overwhelming joy filled his soul. The giggles of bread-and-butter misses
who knew nothing of life and love were beneath his notice. Sally's arms
were still about his neck, her lips were parted expectantly.

"You must go, honey," she whispered and his kiss fell like a punctuation
upon her last delectable word.

If she hadn't given him a gentle push toward the door he might never
have reached the vestibule. Another person who shared his haste to
leave the train materially assisted him by gentle pressure to the
platform. His brain whirled from the intoxication of Sally's
kiss--indeed the two kisses, or specifically the kiss received and the
kiss returned. But his exaltation was of brief duration, for there
beside him stood Isabel like an accusing angel, severe and implacable.
It was she whose gentle impulsion had facilitated his exit from the
parlor car, and beyond question she had witnessed the kissing, a
disagreeable circumstance that fell smotheringly upon his ecstatic mood.

"You were on that train!" he exclaimed;--the most fatuous of questions
and the poorest possible opening for a conversation.

She ignored his inquiry. It was now her turn to give way under the
stress of emotion and the indignant tears shone in her eyes.

"I thought I had made it sufficiently plain at Portsmouth that I resent
your following me! The meeting there might have been by accident, but
seeing you here I am convinced--I am convinced that you are spying upon
me!"

"But, Miss Perry--"

"I should think," she interrupted, "that knowing or suspecting what I am
trying to do you would show me some consideration!"

"But I can explain; really I can explain if you will give me a moment!
It probably hasn't occurred to you that I'm a good deal mystified by
these little journeys you are making over New England! My own dallying
in these parts is due to circumstances I can easily explain. In fact,
but for you I should not be here at all!"

This, uttered with a conciliatory smile and quite calmly, not only
failed to mollify her anger but produced quite the opposite effect. Her
agitation increased, and for the second time they presented the picture
of a man and woman involved in a quarrel in a public place.

"I understand perfectly that but for me you shouldn't be loitering here!
And you practically acknowledged at Portsmouth that you were interesting
yourself in the affairs of the Congdons!"

"We are playing at cross purposes quite