nst him she seemed like a
dainty little kitten purring close to its master. Her every thought and
desire seemed to be centered on this man, who had taught her for the
first time the meaning of the word "love." Tenderly she said:

"John, that is what I want above everything else."

He smiled fondly at her. Gravely he said:

"But, Laura, dear, we must come to some distinct understanding before
we start to make our plans. We're not children."

"No, we're not," she assented positively.

Rising from his knee, she went to the side of the porch and, leaning
her elbows on the balustrade, gazed meditatively out into the valley.

"Now, in the first place," he continued, "we'll discuss you, and in the
second place we'll discuss me. We'll keep nothing from each other, and
we'll start out on this campaign of decency and honor, fully
understanding its responsibilities, without a chance of a come-back on
either side."

Laura turned and looked at him. Her face was pale and serious. Yes,
plain words must be spoken between them and the proper time was now--so
he might yet draw back, if he found he could not take her as she was.

"You mean," she said in a tone so low that he hardly caught it, "that
we should tell each other all about each other so, no matter what is
said about us by other people, _we'll_ know it first."

Madison rose and paced the porch nervously:

"That's precisely what I'm trying to get at," he said.

The girl was silent for a moment; then hesitatingly she said:

"Well, John, there are so many things I don't want to speak of--even to
you. It isn't easy for a woman to go back and dig up a lot of ugly
memories and try to excuse them----"

He interrupted her:

"I don't ask that. I know your life, as I told you. That makes no
difference now. The past is past. I love you as I know you, as you are
to-day. It's only the future we want to worry about. Laura, the habit
of life is a hard thing to get away from. You've lived in this way for
a long time. As my affianced wife you'll have to give it up. You'll
have to go back to New York and struggle along on your own hook, until
I get enough together to come for you. I don't know how long that will
be." Determinedly, almost fiercely, he added: "But it _will_ be. Do you
love me enough to stick out for the right thing?"

The girl said nothing. Her bosom heaved and her mouth quivered. She
appeared deeply moved. Then, suddenly, going quickly up to her
companion, she th