hat fact, and hurried off before his tongue could get him into any
worse scrape.

He suddenly felt an impulse to get back to sanity by a talk with Vona.
He had never called at her home. He knew his Egypt all too well--short
as his stay had been! A call on a young woman by a young man was always
construed by gossip as a process of courtship--and until that day Frank
had been keeping his feelings hidden even from Vona herself.

But, having definitely decided to leave the town, he was in a mood to
put aside considerations of caution in regard to their mutual affairs,
for one evening, at any rate. He was moved also by the reflection that
her father was at home--and the Squire and Xoa had dropped broad hints
as to that gentleman's methods of operation with his womenkind. Vaniman
possessed youth's confidence in his ability to make good in the world.
He wondered if it would not be well to have a general show-down in the
Harnden family, in order that when he went away from Egypt he might go
with the consolation of knowing that Vona was waiting for him, her love
sanctioned.

Pondering, he arrived in front of Egypt's humble town hall. Young folks
were coming out of the door. He remembered then! For some weeks they
had been rehearsing a drama to be presented on the eve of Washington's
Birthday, and Vona had the leading role; she had employed him at slack
times in the bank to hold the script and prompt her in her lines.

He saw her and stopped, and she hastened to him. "I suppose a political
parade on Broadway wouldn't break up a rehearsal, Frank. But that's what
has happened in this case. Not one of us could keep our minds on what we
were saying."

"I'm not surprised. Any noise of an evening in this place, except an owl
hooting, is a cause for hysterics."

She walked on at his side. "You're disgusted with our poor old town,"
she said, plaintively.

"I'm going to leave. Do you blame me?"

"I've heard about the--whatever it was!"

"That's right! Leave it unnamed--whatever it was!"

She touched his arm timidly. "Please be kind--to me--no matter how much
cause you have to dislike others here."

He stopped, put his arms about her, and drew her into a close embrace.
There were shadows of buildings where they stood; no one was near.

"I can't do my best here, Vona. You understand it. But I can't go away
and do the best that's in me unless I go with your pledge to me."

"You have it, Frank! The pledge of all my love."

"B