ew vim he fell into the habit of reading and
studying considerably. Dunn frequently expressed his surprise at
seeing a bankclerk labor so, but the junior officer paid no attention,
since the senior raised no objection. Evan gave his mind an excursion
every day into the large world beyond him; the further he travelled the
more ridiculous his present occupation seemed. But he encouraged
reaction from these fits of treason and in the end criticized his own
imagination more than those things, which, like the bank, are generally
recognized to be tangibly great.

A book lay beneath the hammock this dreamy Autumn afternoon. It was
"The Strenuous Life," by Roosevelt. One would have thought the
reclining figure had grown weary of ambition and had cast the incentive
from him. An Indian Summer day is not conducive to aspirations: mellow
late-Autumn is more tolerant of beauty and love.

A flesh-and-blood combination of both came upon Evan unawares.

"Wow!" he shouted, rubbing the top of his head.

The girl laughed until she was ashamed of herself; then hid her face
and started to run off.

"Don't go 'way, Lily," he called; "I want to say something to you."

She stopped, and eyed him suspiciously.

"What is it, Mr. Nelson?"

"Come here and I'll tell you."

She ventured near.

"Won't you stay a while?" he said, turning his eyes on hers. "I can't
empty it all out in a minute, you know."

"Is it important?" asked Lily, slyly.

"Sure," he laughed; "I wouldn't waste your valuable time if it weren't."

She pouted.

"You think I have nothing to do, I suppose, Mr. Nelson!"

Evan was Mr. to her chiefly because he was a bankclerk.

"Oh no, not that. But you don't seem to be cut out for a post-office
ornament. Do you ever feel dissatisfied here?"

"Why?"

"I was just wondering--I'm beginning to get sick of it myself."

She laughed.

"So am I," she said; "and it's my home, too."

She had settled down on the grass, and her eyes were on a level with
the bankclerk's.

"Still you'll likely settle down here and get married at last," said
Evan, soberly.

"No chance,"--haughtily. "Do you think I would have one of these dubs
around here?"

"What's the matter with them?"

"Oh, they're slow. When I get married I'm going to have a smart,
up-to-date fellow."

Evan had a smile ready for her when she looked at him. She colored
radiantly.

"I must go," she said, rising, and skipped away, not to be stopped this