ould gladly have hurried away from the Academy
grounds to visit his sweetheart in town, but Belle willed it otherwise.

"These are your last days here, Dave," whispered Belle, as she
and her handsome midshipman strolled about. "If I'm to share
your life with you, I may as well begin by sharing the Naval Academy
with you to-day."

"Shall we go over to the field and watch the ball game when it
starts?" Darrin asked.

"Not unless you very especially wish to," Miss Meade replied.
"I'd rather have you to myself than to share your attention with
a ball game."

So, though Midshipman Dave was interested in the outcome of the
game, he decided to wait for the score when it had been made.

"Where's Dan to-day?" Belle inquired.

"Over at the ball game."

"Alone?"

"No; the brigade is with him, or he's with the brigade," laughed
Darrin.

"Then he's not there with a girl?"

"Oh, no; I think Danny's second experience has made him a bit
skeptical about girls."

"And how are you, on that point, Mr. Darrin?" teased Belle, gazing
up at him mirthfully.

"You know my sentiments, as to myself, Belle. As for Dan---well,
I think it beyond doubt that he will do well to wait for several
years before he allows himself to be interested in any girls."

"Why?"

"Well, because Danny's judgment is bad in that direction. And
he's pretty sure to be beaten out by any determined rival. You
see, when Danny gets interested in a girl, he doesn't really know
whether he wants her. From a girl's point of view what do you
think of that failing, Belle?"

"I am afraid the girl is not likely to feel complimented."

"So," pursued Dave, "while Danny is really interested in a girl,
but is uneasily unable to make up his mind, the girl is pretty
sure to grow tired of him and take up with the more positive rival."

"Poor Dan is not likely to have a bride early in life," sighed
Belle.

"Oh, yes; one very excellent bride for a Naval officer to have."

"What is that?"

"His commission. Dan, if he keeps away from too interesting girls,
will have some years in which to fit himself splendidly in his
profession. By that time he'll be all the better equipped for
taking care of a wife."

"I wonder," pondered Belle, "what kind of wife Dan will finally
choose."

"He won't have anything to do with the choosing," laughed Darrin.
"One of these days some woman will choose him, and then Dan will
be anchored for life. It is even very likely that h