ry second's delay her terror grew.

Finally the trees thinned a bit and for a good space ahead there was a
clearing where the night was not so dark and the road not so lumpy.
She hurried to get out of the smother of trees. When once she crossed
that open space all would be well, she told herself, for then the
village lights would wink at her and the sidewalks begin. As soon as
she could see her own lighted windows and set foot on a cement walk she
would no longer be afraid.

So, head bent, she hurried along and was almost near the walk when,
looking up, she saw a man hurrying toward her through a little footpath
that led to the road. She stood motionless with horror. Then the
scream that had hovered on her lips all the way escaped her and she
tried to run.

She did not run far. For one of the high-heeled slippers just curled
up under her and she went down, sobbing "David--David."

And she kept sobbing just that over and over even after David had
picked her up and folded her safe in his arms. He tried to soothe her
and explained that he had missed her, had guessed that she would try to
get home alone down this road and so took the short cut in order to
catch up with her and make sure that she got home safely. He never
dreamed of frightening her so, but she was safe with him now and there
was absolutely nothing to fear.

"But my foot, David. It's swelling. I can feel it--and it hurts."

David took off the little slipper and put it in his pocket. Then he
told her not to worry because he could carry her home easily enough.
But first he sat down with her on an old stone wall and talked to her
until the last sob died away and her head nestled gratefully on his big
comfortable shoulder.

"Jocelyn," he asked presently, "are you still angry with me?"

She shook her head.

"I've never been angry with you, David. But I thought you didn't want
to be bothered any longer with a silly girl like me and so--I tried to
help and be sensible."

"I know. I was crazy that day you rode through town with the minister.
I had no right--"

"Oh,"--she raised her head and looked at him in shy wonder and shocked
relief, "oh, David--was it that--you were hurt at that?"

For answer he gently drew her close to him.

"But David, I didn't go riding with the minister. I was just taking a
little pig home that a boy cousin of mine, who loves to tease me, sent
me. I didn't know anything about pigs and the minister happened to be