rry and that neither she nor Tante makes a scene to
try to force me into giving up my present work. I should simply go on
with it anyhow, Vera."

Vera sighed. The problem of Billy Webster had always been too much for
other people. Was he in the future to become a problem too big for her?

CHAPTER XIV

The Night of the Play

During the weeks of rehearsal before the performance of "As You Like
It," the Camp Fire girls and the young officers and soldiers from the
National Guard camp had delightful opportunities for developing new
friendships.

When the emotion which existed between Felipe Morris and Gerry Williams
became more than an ordinary friendship, the chances for exchanging
confidences were more frequent than one would readily guess.

Felipe possessed a talent for pursuing the ends he desired in a quiet,
unostentatious fashion. There were moments when merely passing by Gerry
with other people near, he would whisper a few words which only she
could hear. Then, when neither of them expected to be called for their
share in a rehearsal, they used to slip away together to some secluded
place for more intimate conversations.

The final rehearsals took place at the open-air theater near one of the
most fashionable seaside resorts in southern California, and Felipe was
familiar with the coast and the surrounding country.

There were no long, dull waits for them between the moments when they
were actually upon the stage, no sense of fatigue and boredom of which
the other amateur players occasionally complained.

Gerry appeared to be happy to listen and Felipe to talk to her
indefinitely.

Of course the other actors were aware of Gerry's and Felipe's interest
in each other and tried teasing them now and then, but since neither
denied the fact, the effort lost its piquancy.

Nor were Mrs. Burton and Mrs. Webster entirely blind, although they did
not accept the situation seriously. It was ridiculous to presume that
every friendship between a girl and a man must be regarded with
solemnity. Nevertheless it is more than possible that if Mrs. Burton had
not been so absorbed in the coming performance she would have noticed
some tell-tale circumstances. Her extreme preoccupation was her chief
excuse.

She did mention to her sister several times that she never had seen
Gerry look so pretty or appear as happy as she had for the past few
weeks.

"Why, the child is like a field of wild flowers; her hair is the co