the
intellectuality of a beautiful woman, who was still every inch a woman
despite her intellectuality. Her thin well-formed lips seemed arranged
by nature in such a manner as to be incomplete without a kiss, and
that lovely face seemed to reinforce the invitation. Her eyes were
black, and when you gazed in them the tenderness therein seemed to be
about to draw you out of yourself. They concealed and yet revealed a
heart capable of passionate love.

Those who could read her and wished her well were much concerned that
she should love wisely; for it could be seen that she was to love with
her whole heart, and to wreck her love was to wreck her life. She had
passed through all her life thus far without seriously noticing any
young man, thus giving some the impression that she was incapable of
love, being so intellectual. Others who read her better knew that
she despised the butterfly, flitting from flower to flower, and was
preserving her heart to give it whole into the keeping of some worthy
man.

She neither sang nor played, but her soul was intensely musical and
she had the most refined and cultivated taste in the musical circles
in which she moved. She was amiable in disposition, but her amiability
was not of the kind to lead her in quest of you; but if you came
across her, she would treat you so pleasantly that you would desire to
pass that way again.

Belton and the principal are now on the way to her room. As they
entered the door her back was to them, as she was gazing out of
the window. Belton's eyes surveyed her graceful form and he was so
impressed with its loveliness that he was sorry when she began to turn
around. But when she was turned full around Belton forgot all about
her form, and his eyes did not know which to contemplate longest, that
rich complexion, those charming eyes, or those seductive lips. On the
other hand, Miss Nermal was struck with Belton's personal appearance
and as she contemplated the noble, dignified yet genial appearance
which he presented, her lips came slightly apart, rendering her all
the more beautiful.

The principal said: "Miss Nermal, allow me to present to you our newly
arrived associate in the work, Mr. Belton Piedmont."

Miss Nermal smiled to Belton and said: "Mr. Piedmont, we are glad to
have a man of your acknowledged talents in our midst and we anticipate
much of you."

Belton felt much flattered, surprised, overjoyed. He wished that
he could find the person who h