can't you?"

For a moment memory was swept away in the flood of astonishment and
joy that overwhelmed her. Then, like a menace, the haughty girl of
the sheep pasture loomed before her.

"Oh! no! no!" she gasped. "Why do you say such things to
me?--_you_--engaged to Blanche Puddicombe!"

"O-h!"--It held a note of exultation. "Has that absurd story
reached you? Miss Sterling, there is not an atom of truth in it!"
The words tumbled from his lips. "Mrs. Puddicombe's grandmother
and my grandfather were sister and brother. The families have
always been friendly. Last summer Blanche was in such wretched
health that her mother wanted me to take her to ride as often as I
could. So whenever I went off on business I would carry Blanche
along. That is all there is to it!"

They were moving slowly now. A great car came honking up behind,
roared past, and became a red star in the distance. Another
flashed out ahead, glared down upon them, and whizzed by. Nelson
Randolph spoke again.

"Have you no hope for me?"

"Oh, yes!" It barely rose through the purring of the car.

His right hand left the wheel and closed over the two little
gray-gloved ones folded so quietly.

"You shall never regret it!" he promised. "I will try to make you
forget this year of misery."

The talk ran on. As they passed through th6 outskirts of Fair
Harbor, he said:--

"I expect to go to New York to-morrow morning on the 6.30 train.
If I can get through my business in time I shall come back in the
evening; but I am afraid it will be too late for a ride. That will
have to wait until Thursday. I don't know how I am going to
communicate with you. I cannot bear to leave you without any means
of letting me know if you are in trouble."

"I don't think there will be any trouble," she said contentedly.

"There might be. How would it do for me to tell the Dragon that
you belong to me and that you are to be free to go and come as you
please or to use the telephone whenever you like?"

"Oh, don't!" A note of fear was in her voice.

"You had better lock your door at night, then. There is a key?"

"Yes, but it is subject to rules."

"Ignore rules and lock the door! Dragons are not to be trusted.
And remember, if there should be any trouble whatever, call me at
once,--in some way,--and I will drop everything and come."

"Thank you! You are so good!"

He laughed softly. "Good to myself!"

They sped along Edgewood Avenue, and the c