n as Rita had wounded Dic, the first
remedy that suggests itself to the normal masculine mind is another
woman, and the remedy is usually effective. There may not be as good
fish in the sea as the one he wants, but good fish there are, in great
numbers. Balm of Gilead doubtless has curative qualities; but for a
sore, jealous, aching, masculine heart I would every time recommend the
fish of the sea.

Sukey, upon Mrs. Bright's invitation, remained for supper, and Dic, of
course, was compelled to take her home. Upon arrival at the Yates
mansion, Sukey invited Dic to enter. Dic declined. She drew off her
mittens and took his hand.

"Why," she said, "your hands are like ice; you must come in and warm
them. Please do," so Dic hitched his horse under a straw-covered shed
and went in with the remedy. One might have travelled far and wide
before finding a more pleasant remedy than Sukey; but Dic's ailments
were beyond cure, and Sukey's smiles might as well have been wasted upon
her brother snowman in the adjacent field.

Soon after Dic's arrival, all the family, save Sukey, adjourned to the
kitchen, leaving the girl and her "company" to themselves, after the
dangerous manner of the times.

If any member of the family should remain in the room where the young
lady of the house was entertaining a friend, the visitor would consider
himself _persona non grata_, and would come never again. Of course the
Bays family had never retired before Dic; but he had always visited Tom,
not Rita.

The most unendurable part of Williams's visits to Rita was the fact that
they were made to her, and that she was compelled to sit alone with him
through the long evenings, talking as best she could to one man and
longing for another. When that state of affairs exists, and the woman
happens to be a wife, the time soon comes when she sighs for the
pleasures of purgatory; yet we all know some poor woman who meets the
wrong man every day and gives him herself and her life because God, in
His inscrutable wisdom, has permitted a terrible mistake. To this
bondage would Rita's mother sell her.

Dic did not remain long with the tempting little remedy. While his hand
was on the latch she detained him with many questions, and danced about
him in pretty impatience.

"Why do you go?" she asked poutingly.

"You said Bob Kaster was coming," replied Dic.

"Oh, well, you stay and I'll send him about his business quickly
enough," she returned.

"Would you,