had seen him enter
at another lowly door, in another and far-off land. She felt again the
fear which then she half admitted. But in a moment Mary Ellen knew
that all fear and all resistance were too late.

The eyes of Franklin, direct, assured, almost sad, asked her no
question, but only said, "Here am I!" And Mary Ellen knew that she
could no longer make denial or delay. Her thoughts came rapid and
confused; her eyes swam; her heart beat fast. Afar she heard the
singing of a mocker in the oaks, throbbing, thrilling high and sweet as
though his heart would break, with what he had to say.

Judge Wilson and Dr. Gregg politely removed their hats as Franklin
entered the car and addressed Mary Ellen. Confused by the abruptness
of it all, it was a moment before she recognised local requirements,
and presented Franklin to the gentlemen. For an instant she planned
flight, escape. She would have begged Franklin to return with her.
Fate in the form of the driver had its way. "Git ep, mewel!" sounded
from the front of the car. There was a double groan. A little bell
tinkled lazily. The rusty wheels began slowly to revolve.

"It's an awful hour to call," admitted Franklin under the rumble of the
wheels. "I couldn't get a carriage, and I hadn't any horse. There
wasn't any car. Forgive me."

Part of this was open conversation, and Franklin made still further
polite concessions to the company. Yes, he himself was a member of the
bar--a very unworthy one. He had a relative who was a physician. A
lovely city, this, which they had. Beautiful old places, these along
the way. A rare and beautiful life, that of these old Southern
families. Delightful, the South. He had always loved it in so far as
he had ever known it, and he felt the better acquainted, having known
Miss Beauchamp so well in her former home in the West. And the Judge
said, "Uh-ah!" and the doctor bowed, looking the while with
professional admiration at the chest and flank of this brown, powerful
man, whose eye smote like a ray from some motor full of compressed
energy.

Beyond this it is only to be said that both Judge and doctor were
gentlemen, and loyal to beauty in distress. They both earned Mary
Ellen's love, for they got off eight blocks sooner than they should
have done, and walked more than half a mile in the sun before they
found a place of rest.

"Oh, well, yessah, Judge," said Dr. Gregg, half sighing, "we were young
once, eh, Judge?