hat
surprised her. He wrote:

MY DEAR MISS PAGE: I trust you will pardon me for intruding myself
upon you, but I wish you to know that a few pointed words spoken by
you while I was enjoying your hospitality have not been forgotten,
and have influenced me to make an effort to be something better
than an idler in the world. Your brother kindly consented to let me
read law in his office, and I am now hard at it. I do not imagine
this will interest you, but I felt that you had scant respect for
useless people, and as you could rightly so regard me, I wanted you
to know that I am capable of rising above my aimless life.

I have recalled so many times all the little incidents of my visit
to your home, and lived over those evenings graced by your
presence, and lit by a cheerful fire, time and again. Do not think
me insincere when I assure you they were the most delightful ones I
ever passed. If you find time to write a line to one who is now a
worker in the hive instead of a drone, it will be gratefully
received by me.

To a girl with Alice Page's sympathetic nature and tender feelings,
words like these made her feel she was what she most enjoyed being--an
inspiration and help to others. In this respect Frank Nason had read her
better than she had read him, or else some fortunate intuition had led
him aright. She answered the letter at once, thanking him for his
flattering words, but forbidding him to use any more of them.

"I do not like flattery," she wrote, "because no one ever can feel quite
sure it is sincere. I will answer all your letters if you will promise
not to tell Bert we are corresponding. Not that I am ashamed of it by
any means, but he is inclined to tease me and I love him so dearly I
can't bear to have him do so. The little girl you sent the candy to was
both astonished and grateful. I did not tell her who sent it, for the
fact would have been all over town in a week if I had, and I do not like
to be gossiped about. I merely told her a good fairy had sent it, which
was better."

Once a week thereafter Alice received a long letter from Frank and as
regularly answered it. It is needless to say that she soon began to
anticipate them and that they added much to her monotonous life. Frank
wisely refrained from any expression of love, though Alice felt sure he
was likely to make such expression in person if ever he had an
opportun