re not accept it without a proper
introduction, Mr.--Mr. Thornton."

This was said in the most coquettish manner possible, and Tom Thornton
felt his heart beating proudly.

"I've struck her all right!" he told himself. "I mustn't let it slip.
I'll improve the opportunity."

So he talked to her in his most fascinating manner, and was bold enough
to express a hope that he might see her again, to which she replied that
he "might." And when she left Tom was in a state of delighted
satisfaction, thoroughly pleased with himself.

Thornton was inclined to boast of his conquests, and it was not long
before he had told several of his friends about the "corking pretty
girl" who had wandered into his room.

"And I caught her without a struggle," he declared repeatedly. "Country
girl and rather unsophisticated; but a regular rustic rose--no, a
regular daisy. Cousin of some fellow over in South Middle. Her name?
Never mind. I am not giving things away. She is going to stay down a
week, and gave me her promise that I should see her again. But she
intends to be strictly proper, although she does not know much of city
ways, for she declared that I must be properly introduced to her before
she would make an appointment with me. Oh, it's dead easy when you know
how!"

Tad Horner was Thornton's roommate. "Grace Darling" had chosen an
occasion when Tad was not in, and thus had found Tom alone.

Tom boasted of his conquest to Tad, who grinned and tried to chaff him
about his charming country girl.

"Did she have hayseed in her hair?" asked Tad.

"It's not that kind of a lady, Horner. They'll all be envious of me. She
is a stunning blonde, and her innocent country ways make her all the
more attractive. She has such eyes--and such teeth! Her lips are very
inviting, my dear boy. It's just the sort of a mouth a fellow longs to
kiss. And if I do not sip nectar from those ruby lips before she returns
to her country home, I'll be dead slow."

"Wow!" whooped Tad. "Sip nectar! That beats! Thornton, this rural maiden
has knocked you silly!"

"Wait till you see her, and you will not wonder, my boy."

"I'll go something you do not see her again."

"Oh, but I have her promise!"

"Ah, she was giving you a jolly!"

"You'll see!" cried Tom, piqued. "Just wait a while."

Two days passed, and Thornton began to think he would not hear anything
from his "mash." Then came an invitation to spend an evening at Winnie
Lee's, and Winnie hinted