re going to send a number to poor families out in the
country districts. It was just when she was in the midst of this work
that Dick asked her to attend a dance with him on Thursday night.

"If you don't go this time I shall never ask you again," he told her.
"It's to be at Mrs. Dingle's, and you know how cut up she will feel if
you refuse her. Sammie, too, is expecting you, and he will never visit
us again if you do not go."

"But how am I to leave my work, Dick?" Lois questioned. "We are so
busy every night packing the boxes, which we must get off as soon as
possible. I am more interested in them than I am in what Mrs. Dingle
and Sammie might think. They surely know by this time that I do not
care for them."

"Well, come for my sake, then," Dick pleaded.

"That is a better reason why I should go," and Lois smiled upon her
brother.

"And you will go?" Dick was all eagerness now. "There's to be a jolly
crowd there. Sammie told me that he has invited a crack-a-jack of an
artist he met at the club. He is an English chap and has been out here
only a short time. He puts out some great stuff in the way of
pictures, so I understand. Then, that Westcote girl is to be there.
My, I'm anxious to meet her. She is worth while if what I hear about
her is true."

The mention of the Westcote girl gave Lois more interest in the dance
than she had hitherto taken. She did want to see her as well as Dick,
for she had often thought about her since she had heard that Jasper had
luncheon with her and her father at the Sign of the Maple. It was
unusual for her to take an interest in a stranger. But this was
different, and so she decided to accompany her brother.

Mrs. Dingle was delighted to have Lois at her party, principally on her
son's account. She had chosen her for Sammie from all the eligible
girls she knew, and the idea that Lois might object to becoming Mrs.
Sammie Dingle never once entered her mind. There were financial
reasons as well, for was not Peter Sinclair manager and chief owner of
the City Light and Power Company?

Lois had not been long in the room, ere she felt herself affected by
some unknown influence. She could not account for this feeling as she
had never experienced, anything like it before. Even when on the floor
in the midst of a dreamy waltz, a sense of dread almost overwhelmed
her. A weight seemed suddenly to press upon her heart, as if some
terrible disaster were near. Hers was not