rely, isn't it?"

"Yes," said the son, proudly.

Mr. Nelson took a deep draught of strong tea. Mrs. Nelson sat silent.
Lou passed her brother a piece of fresh toast she had made for herself.

She got her brother alone after breakfast, ostensibly to show him her
presents.

"Evan," she said, eyeing him as she used to years before when he had
done something to puzzle her, "you don't seem very anxious about
somebody."

He did not parry with a question.

"What's the use, Lou?" he said.

She thought a moment: "I guess there is no use of getting serious on
seven dollars a week."

Her reasonableness comforted him and he told her so. They became as
intimate as when they were children.

"You don't suppose Frank still--well, thinks she is in love with yours
truly, do you, Lou?" he asked.

"Well--she doesn't act like it," replied Lou, rather indignantly. "You
won't be surprised if I tell you something?"

He said he wouldn't.

".....Frankie is going with another fellow!"

Evan drew a silver case of cigarettes from his pocket, took out a
"smoke" and replaced the case. Lou regarded him in amazement.

"Why, Evan!" she exclaimed.

He laughed. His mother smelt the smoke.

"My boy, I'm ashamed of you," she said, coming into the parlor.

He smiled around the cigarette, and said inarticulately:

"I don't smoke many."

"Why don't you use a pipe?" came a deep voice from the kitchen.

"I have a pipe," said Evan.

"Here, take a cigar," returned the father immediately, coming in to
rarefy the atmosphere.

Promptly Evan twirled his cigarette into the grate and accepted a cigar
with an adult air. Lou began laughing, but soon checked herself and
endeavored to give the youthful debauchee a look of scorn. Unable to
carry it out, she gazed out of the window.

"Oh, brother," she said, "come here and see."

He walked to the window. Strolling down the opposite side of the
street, apparently on their way to church, were two young people--a boy
and a girl. A glance told Evan who the girl was, but he did more than
glance at the fellow. The two were coming nearer.

"For Heaven's sake!" said Evan, "I know that guy. Let's call them in."

Opening the front door he shouted:

"Hey, come on up and see us!"

Frankie hesitated, but her brave escort insisted and she walked
shamefacedly toward Nelson's home. Evan allowed himself a few moments
of rash merriment which greatly surprised his mother and sister. His
strange