met, and he suddenly leaned over the gate and kissed her,
in the dusky twilight. She gave a little cry, as of surprise or
dismay, retreating swiftly; but Frank clung to her hands, and she did
not make a severe struggle to break away, although for a moment there
was a playful mockery of a struggle.

Slowly he drew her back to the gate, but she timidly held away, as if
she were really alarmed.

"How dare you, sir!" she exclaimed, with a toss of her head. "You are
very bold!"

"I beg your pardon," he beseeched, with mock humbleness. "I will agree
not to do it again--till I get another good chance."

"Really! How sacrificing you are! You are extremely free."

"Stolen sweets, you know, are the best. But truly, Inza, hadn't I a
right to that?"

"A right, indeed! Why, to use a slang expression, that is cheek!"

"Never mind the cheek," he said, laughingly. "I prefer the lips."

And then, before she could divine his intention, he kissed her again.

This time she broke away in earnest.

"Good-night, sir," she called, from up the walk.

"Oh, wait a moment!" he implored. "You aren't going to leave me like
this?"

"Oh, but I am."

"How can you!"

"You are getting altogether too free."

She seemed really angry, and a feeling of dismay came over the lad at
the gate.

"Inza!"

She had paused

"Well, sir?"

"Don't go away angry, please! I know I had no right to steal those
kisses, but I am willing to make amends."

"Oh, you are!" she said, wonderingly, and it seemed to Frank that she
was struggling to keep back a burst of laughter. "How will you do it?"

"If you'll come here, I will give them back to you."

That was a master-stroke. A soft laugh came from her lips, and she
returned:

"You are a saucy, cheeky fellow, and I am not coming back. Good-night."

"You are not angry?"

"What's the use to be angry with you!"

"Good-night, Inza."

"Good-night, Frank."

As he turned away down the walk, he saw her pause at the door and heard
her softly call:

"Frank."

"Yes?"

"I don't like to think of you as a thief. I will take those kisses
back some other time."

Then, with another ripple of laughter, she disappeared into the house.

Frank's heart was very light as he walked airily down the street. He
had forgotten the man in black for the time, and he whistled a lively
air, thinking of the charming girl he had left a few moments before.

It had now grown quite dark, for the moon had