e. The weeks flew
quickly by on gossamer wings, and when she placed a bunch of larkspurs
and poppies in his hand one morning, he remembered for the first that
it was spring.

I cannot say that there was more to record of Miss Bessy's education
than this. Once North, half jestingly, remarked that he had never yet
seen her admirer, Mr. Hank Fisher. Miss Bessy (coloring but
cool)--"You never will!" North (white but hot)--"Why?" Miss Bessy
(faintly)--"I'd rather not." North (resolutely)--"I insist." Bessy
(yielding)--"As my teacher?" North (hesitatingly, at the limitation of
the epithet)--"Y-e-e-s!" Bessy--"And you'll promise never to speak of
it again?" North--"Never." Bessy (slowly)--"Well, he said I did an
awful thing to go over to your cabin and stay." North (in the genuine
simplicity of a refined nature)--"But how?" Miss Bessy (half piqued,
but absolutely admiring that nature)--"Quit! and keep your promise!"

They were so happy in these new relations that it occurred to Miss
Bessy one day to take James North to task for obliging her to ask to be
his pupil. "You knew how ignorant I was," she added; and Mr. North
retorted by relating to her the doctor's criticism on her independence.
"To tell you the truth," he added, "I was afraid you would not take it
as kindly as he thought."

"That is, you thought me as vain as yourself. It seems to me you and
the doctor had a great deal to say to each other."

"On the contrary," laughed North, "that was all we said."

"And you didn't make fun of me?"

Perhaps it was not necessary for North to take her hand to emphasize
his denial, but he did.

Miss Bessy, being still reminiscent, perhaps, did not notice it. "If it
hadn't been for that ar--I mean that thar--no, that baby--I wouldn't
have known you!" she said dreamily.

"No," returned North, mischievously, "but you still would have known
Hank Fisher."

No woman is perfect. Miss Bessy looked at him with a sudden--her first
and last--flash of coquetry. Then stooped and kissed--the baby.

James North was a simple gentleman, but not altogether a fool. He
returned the kiss, but not vicariously.

There was a footstep on the porch. These two turned the hues of a
dying dolphin, and then laughed. It was Joe. He held a newspaper in
his hand. "I reckon ye woz right, Mr. North, about my takin' these yar
papers reg'lar. For I allow here's suthin' that may clar up the
mystery o' that baby's parents." With the hesi