et away from here. Let us get married now--to-night, and leave
this place forever, Phil!"

"No!" she cried angrily, frightened now as he stopped and planted
himself before her at the edge of Amzi's lawn, where the house loomed
darkly against the stars.

He gripped her arms. In all her rough play with boys, none had ever
dared to touch her, and she choked with wrath. He had taken her off
guard. Her hands, thrust into her muff, were imprisoned there by his
grasp of her arms.

"Phil, you can't leave me like this. You've got to say yes. I'll kill
myself if you don't."

She tried to wrench herself free, but his anger had slipped its leash
and was running away with him. He drew her toward him, and the brute in
him roused at her nearness. He threw an arm round her suddenly, and bent
to kiss her. Abruptly she flung him back, wrenched her arms free and
seized his wrists. Her fear left her on the instant; she was as strong
or stronger than he, and she held him away from her easily, breathing
deeply, and wondering just how to dispose of him. She laughed mockingly
as he struggled, confident in the security of her greater strength. The
light from Amzi's gate-lamp fell upon them, and she peered into his face
curiously. At other times the spectacle of a gentleman in a silk hat
held at ease by a young woman in her best evening bonnet would have been
amusing, but Phil was thoroughly angry.

"I didn't think you would be like this. I thought all the time that you
were a man; I even thought you were a gentleman!"

He jerked back in an effort to free his arms, a movement that
precipitated his hat to the pavement. She gave his wrists a wrench that
caused him to cry out in pain. To be held in a vise-like grip by a girl
he had tried to kiss was a new and disagreeable experience. His anger
rioted uncontrollably. He brought his face closer and sneered:--

"You needn't take such grand airs;--think what your mother is!"

She flung him against the iron fence with a violence that shook it, and
her fists beat a fierce tattoo on his face--white-gloved fists, driven
by sound, vigorous, young arms; and then as he cowered, with his arms
raised to protect himself from her blows, she stepped back, her anger
and contempt still unsatisfied.

He lifted his head, guardedly, thinking the attack was over, and with a
quick sweep of her arm she struck his face with her open hand, a sharp,
tingling slap. As she turned toward the gate, her foot encountered