he prohibition
sat heavily upon him. So heavily, indeed, that no matter who had crossed
his path when he was again liberated, that person was doomed to suffer
what Alfy had been spared.

That person proved to be "Kitty Quixote," never more worthy of her name
than as she sat in the forest dreaming marvellous dreams of the future;
of wrongs to be righted, of poverty banished, and all dependent upon the
unknown contents of a brass bound box. Under other circumstances she
would have rejoiced to see Montgomery, as the only young creature of her
own species yet met in Marsden, but not with this wonderful mystery upon
her mind. When he had appropriated a full half of her boulder,
uninvited, she waited a moment, then icily inquired:

"Where are you going?"

"N-n-n-nowhere."

"That's a good place. When?"

"Oh, b-b-bime-by," answered the lad, with easy indifference.

"You might be late," suggested Katharine, sweetly, yet inwardly longing
to mimic his stammering speech.

Then, all at once, she began to slide. There had been no perceptible
movement on Montgomery's part. Assuming an indifference as great as his
own, Katharine had leaned forward to inspect her second shoe-string, and
afterward attempting to regain her former uprightness, felt, instead,
that she was slipping downward. She landed angrily upon her feet, and,
facing about, she upbraided him as a "rude, unmannerly boy."

However, the mischief was done, her secret was out. Monty forgot his
desire to "plague her" in his surprised curiosity. Bending over the box
he examined it critically, and finally announced:

"T-t-that's the most b-b-beautifullest thing I ever saw. W-where'd you
get it?"

"Found it. But it isn't mine. It's Aunt Eunice's, and I think you are
horrid mean. I didn't want a person should know anything about it till I
could put it into her own hands, and then you went and came. Now the
whole charm of it is gone. Oh, dear!"

Montgomery ignored her unflattering remarks, and, lifting the casket,
exclaimed:

"H-h-h-heavy! H-h-heavier 'n lead. What you s-s-s-suppose is in it?
Where'd you find it? W-w-w-when?"

Since secrecy was no longer possible, Kate was only too glad to tell
everything, and now all desire for teasing had left the listener. He was
even ashamed that he had forced the girl from the rock, though glad of
the result, and in another instant both tongues were busy with
speculation concerning the astonishing find.

"It's so queer. It ha