f looking at things than I have. Living in
a little town all your life makes you narrow. These girls!--Well, maybe
I'll get educated up to their plane some day, but----"

"No, you don't!" hissed Gus. "Not if I can help it."

"But you can't," replied Gertie, sweetly. "My, ain't this a grand night!
Evenings like this I used to love to putter around the yard after supper,
sprinkling the grass and weeding the radishes. I'm the greatest kid to
fool around with a hose. And flowers! Say, they just grow for me. You
ought to have seen my pansies and nasturtiums last summer."

The fingers of the Kid Next Door wandered until they found Gertie's.
They clasped them.

"This thing just points one way, little one. It's just as plain as a
path leading up to a cozy little three-room flat up here on the North
Side somewhere. See it? With me and you married, and playing at
housekeeping in a parlor and bedroom and kitchen? And both of us going
down town to work in the morning just the same as we do now. Only not
the same, either."

"Wake up, little boy," said Gertie, prying her fingers away from those
other detaining ones. "I'd fit into a three-room flat like a whale in a
kitchen sink. I'm going back to Beloit, Wisconsin. I've learned my
lesson all right. There's a fellow there waiting for me. I used to
think he was too slow. But say, he's got the nicest little painting and
paper-hanging business you ever saw, and making money. He's secretary of
the K. P.'s back home. They give some swell little dances during the
winter, especially for the married members. In five years we'll own our
home, with a vegetable garden in the back. I'm a little frog, and it's
me for the puddle."

Gus stood up slowly. Gertie felt a little pang of compunction when she
saw what a boy he was.

"I don't know when I've enjoyed a talk like this. I've heard about these
dawn teas, but I never thought I'd go to one," she said.

"Good-night, girlie," interrupted Gus, abruptly. "It's the dreamless
couch for mine. We've got a big sale on in tan and black seconds
to-morrow."

II

THE MAN WHO CAME BACK

There are two ways of doing battle against Disgrace. You may live it
down; or you may run away from it and hide. The first method is
heart-breaking, but sure. The second cannot be relied upon because of
the uncomfortable way Disgrace has of turning up at your heels just when
you think you have eluded her in the last town but one.