nyone a better right? I
have waited a long while for this, and I mean to make up now for
lost time."

He took a step toward her again, but Sammy held him off at arm's
length, as she repeated, "No--no--you must not; not now." Young
Stewart was helpless. And the discovery that she was stronger than
this man brought to the girl a strange feeling, as of shame.

"How strong you are," he said petulantly; ceasing his efforts.
Then carefully surveying the splendidly proportioned and developed
young woman, he added, "And how beautiful!"

Under his look, Sammy's face flushed painfully, even to her neck
and brow; and the man, seeing her confusion, laughed again. Then,
seating himself in the only rocking-chair in the room, the young
gentleman leisurely removed his gloves, looking around the while
with an amused expression on his face, while the girl stood
watching him. At last, he said impatiently, "Sit down, sit down,
Sammy. You look at me as if I were a ghost."

Unconsciously, she slipped into the speech of the old days, "You
sure don't look much like you used to. I never see nobody wear
such clothes as them. Not even Dad Howitt, when he first come. Do
you wear 'em every day?"

Ollie frowned; "You're just like all the rest, Sammy. Why don't
you talk as you write? You've improved a lot in your letters. If
you talk like that in the city; people will know in a minute that
you are from the country."

At this, Sammy rallied her scattered wits, and the wide,
questioning look was in her eyes, as she replied quietly, "Thank
you. I'll try to remember. But tell me, please, what harm could it
do, if people did know I came from the country?"

It was Ollie's turn to be amazed. "Why you can talk!" he said.
"Where did you learn?" And the girl answered simply that she had
picked it up from the old shepherd.

This little incident put Sammy more at ease, and she skilfully led
her companion to speak of the city and his life there. Of his
studies the young fellow had little to say, and, to her secret
delight, the girl found that she had actually made greater
progress with her books than had her lover with all his supposed
advantages.

But of other things, of the gaiety and excitement of the great
city, of his new home, the wealth of his uncle, and his own bright
prospects, Ollie spoke freely, never dreaming the girl had already
seen the life he painted in such glowing colors through the eyes
of one who had been careful to point out the