as the best grazing country in the world, but we don't eat
that sort of stuff in New York. That's why it costs more to live here.

MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.

Just before leaving his apartments for Miss Drew's home he received
this response from faraway Montana:

BUTTE, MONTANA, Oct. 23, 1--

MONTGOMERY BREWSTER, New York.

We are eight thousand feet above the level of the sea. I suppose that's
why it costs us less to live high.

S. JONES.

"I was beginning to despair, Monty," said Miss Drew, reproachfully,
when he had come down from the height of his exasperation and
remembered that there were things of more importance.

The light in his eyes brought the faintest tinge of red to her cheeks,
and where a moment before there had been annoyance there was now a
feeling of serenity. For a moment the silence was fraught with purpose.
Monty glanced around the room, uncertain how to begin. It was not so
easy as he had imagined.

"You are very good to see me," he said at last. "It was absolutely
necessary for me to talk to you this evening; I could not have endured
the suspense any longer. Barbara, I've spent three or four sleepless
nights on your account. Will it spoil your evening if I tell you in
plain words what you already know? It won't bother you, will it?" he
floundered.

"What do you mean, Monty?" she begged, purposely dense, and with
wonderful control of her eyes.

"I love you, Babs," he cried. "I thought you knew about it all along or
I should have told you before. That's why I haven't slept. The fear
that you may not care for me has driven me nearly to distraction. It
couldn't go on any longer. I must know to-day."

There was a gleam in his eyes that made her pose of indifference
difficult; the fervor of his half-whispered words took possession of
her. She had expected sentiment of such a different character that his
frank confession disarmed her completely. Beneath his ardent, abrupt
plea there was assurance, the confidence of one who is not to be
denied. It was not what he said, but the way he said it. A wave of
exultation swept over her, tingling through every nerve. Under the
spell her resolution to dally lightly with his emotion suffered a check
that almost brought ignominious surrender. Both of her hands were
clasped in his when he exultingly resumed the charge against her heart,
but she was rapidly regaining control of her emotions and he did not
know that he was losing ground with each step h