most anything;
we consider her the greatest success in our
Camp Fire club," Betty protested. "Nan
is studying domestic science at the High
School and intends teaching it some day,
so she will make you awfully comfortable
at home."

The young man put out his hand.
"Good-bye," he said. "I never dreamed
I would be brave enough to ask you to
shake hands with me for a good many
years yet. But since you have been kind
enough----"

"To ask you ten thousand questions,"
Betty laughed, rising and putting out
both hands with a friendly gesture, and
then moving toward the door with her
caller.

"I am not going to be able to live at
home, however," Anthony concluded. "It
is too far to our little place to get into
town early enough for my work and to
be here in the evenings for the night school.
I've got to find a room somewhere. I
oughtn't to kick because nobody seems
crazy to let me stay in their house. I
did leave a pretty poor reputation behind
me around here and I've got to _show_
people first that I mean to behave differently.
I guess I'll strike better luck later."

Although Betty was extremely
sympathetic, she did not answer at once.
For a sudden surprising understanding had
come to her. How difficult it must be for
any one to have to go about telling his
acquaintances of his reformation before
having the chance to prove it. Then an
almost appealing expression crept into her
face, making her cheeks flush hotly and
her lashes droop. Her old friends would
have recognized the look. For it was the
one that she most often wore when she
desired to do another person a kindness
and feared she might not be allowed.

"Couldn't you, won't you come here
and have a room with us?" she asked
unexpectedly. "We have such heaps of
rooms in this old house and now mother
and I are here alone, we really would like
to have you for protection. And if you
don't like to accept with just my
invitation, will you come in again tomorrow
or next day? I am sure mother will wish
to ask you too."

Anthony Graham had had rather a rough
time always. He had a peculiar disposition,
and all his life probably liked only a
few people very deeply. His wasted
youth--nearly twenty years of idling rather than
study or work--and his mixed parentage--the
Italian peasant mother and his New
England father--would make his struggle
in the world a long and an uphill one even
if he should finally succeed. Among the
first things