be really understanding. So don't talk any more foolishness,
Melanctha, about my always changing. I don't change, never, and I got
to do what I think is right and honest to me, and I never told you
any different, and you always knew it very well that I always would do
just so. If you like me to come and see you to-morrow, and go out with
you, I will be very glad to, Melanctha. Let me know right away, what
it is you want me to be doing for you, Melanctha.

Very truly yours,
Jefferson Campbell

"Please come to me, Jeff." Melanctha wrote back for her answer. Jeff
went very slowly to Melanctha, glad as he was, still to be going to
her. Melanctha came, very quick, to meet him, when she saw him
from where she had been watching for him. They went into the house
together. They were very glad to be together. They were very good to
one another.

"I certainly did think, Melanctha, this time almost really, you never
did want me to come to you at all any more to see you," said Jeff
Campbell to her, when they had begun again with their talking to each
other. "You certainly did make me think, perhaps really this time,
Melanctha, it was all over, my being with you ever, and I was very
mad, and very sorry, too, Melanctha."

"Well you certainly was very bad to me, Jeff Campbell," said
Melanctha, fondly.

"I certainly never do say any more you ain't always right, Melanctha,"
Jeff answered and he was very ready now with cheerful laughing, "I
certainly never do say that any more, Melanctha, if I know it, but
still, really, Melanctha, honest, I think perhaps I wasn't real bad to
you any more than you just needed from me."

Jeff held Melanctha in his arms and kissed her. He sighed then and was
very silent with her. "Well, Melanctha," he said at last, with some
more laughing, "well, Melanctha, any way you can't say ever it ain't,
if we are ever friends good and really, you can't say, no, never, but
that we certainly have worked right hard to get both of us together
for it, so we shall sure deserve it then, if we can ever really get
it." "We certainly have worked real hard, Jeff, I can't say that ain't
all right the way you say it," said Melanctha. "I certainly never
can deny it, Jeff, when I feel so worn with all the trouble you been
making for me, you bad boy, Jeff," and then Melanctha smiled and then
she sighed, and then she was very silent with him.

At last Jeff was to go away. They stood there on the steps for a long
time tr