arrive,--and that he would steal
away again as soon as the "chores" were done.

He arose to his feet and stood over the fire for a moment or two,
watching its lively progress. Apparently satisfied with his efforts, he
turned and started toward the door. She was standing in his path, a shy,
wavering smile on her lips.

He halted, and after an instant's hesitation, stammered:

"I--I never dreamed you'd be around so early. I thought I'd run in as I
was passing and build a fire for--for the kiddies. Get the place warmed
up a bit before--"

"Will you let me say something, Mr. Percival?" she broke in, hurrying
the words.

He fumbled for his hat. "I am sorry if you are annoyed, Miss Clinton.
Please believe me when I tell you I hoped to get out before you came. I
came early so that you would not find me--"

"You are not letting me say what I want to say."

She came toward him, her hand extended. "Oh, I don't want to thank you
for lighting the fire and putting the room in order. I want to tell you
that I surrender."

"Surrender?" he exclaimed, staring.

"I cannot fight you any longer," she said breathlessly.

He looked dumbly first at her hand and then into her eyes. She was an
arm's length away.

"Fight me?" he mumbled, uncomprehending.

"You--you said we could not be friends. I knew what you meant. If--if
you love me,--oh, if you do love me, we need not be friends. But I know
you love me. If I did not know it I could not have come to you like this
and--"

"Do I love you?" he cried out. "My God, I--I worship you."

She held out both arms to him. "Then, we will try no more to be
friends," she murmured very softly. "Here are my arms. I surrender."

A long time after he said to her as they sat before the jubilant,
applauding fire,--the only witness to their ecstasy:

"Now I understand why we have never really been friends. It wasn't what
God intended. Even in the beginning we were not friends. We thought we
were,--but we weren't. We were lovers, Ruth,--from the start."

"I tried very hard to hate you," she sighed, drawing a little closer
in the crook of his encircled arm. "How wonderful it all is,--how
wonderful!"

"I never believed it could come true. I hoped, God, how I hoped,--but
it didn't seem possible that this could ever happen. I've wanted to hold
you in my arms, to kiss your dear lips, to kiss your eyes, to touch
your hair, to press you tight against my heart. And here I am awake, not
dreaming, no