n crossing
his brows. "I only helped him along. But she must not be grateful. I
don't like the word. Gratitude hasn't got anything to do with--" he did
not finish the sentence.

"But you DID save his life, and you know it, and I just love you for
it," she insisted, ignoring his criticism as she again smoothed his
hand. "You did a fine, noble act, and I am proud of you and I came to
tell you so." Then she added suddenly: "You received my message last
night, didn't you? Now, don't tell me that that good-for-nothing Peter
forgot it."

"No, he gave it to me, and it was so kind of you."

"Well, then I forgive him. And now," here she made a little salaam with
both her hands--"now you have Ruth's message."

"I have what?" he asked in astonishment.

"Ruth's message." She still kept her face straight although her lips
quivered with merriment.

Jack tried to lift his head: "What is her message?" he asked with
expectant eyes--perhaps she had sent him a letter!

Miss Felicia tapped her bosom with her forefinger.

"ME!" she cried, "I am her message. She was so worried last night when
she found out how ill you were that I promised her to come and comfort
you; that is why it is ME. And now, don't you think you ought to get
down on your knees and thank her? Why, you don't seem a bit pleased!"

"And she sent you to me--because--because--she was GRATEFUL that I saved
her father's life?" he asked in a bewildered tone.

"Of course--why shouldn't she be; is there anything else you can give
her she would value as much as her father's life, you conceited young
Jackanapes?"

She had the pin through the butterfly now and was watching it squirm;
not maliciously--she was never malicious. He would get over the prick,
she knew. It might help him in the end, really.

"No, I suppose not," he replied simply, as he sank back on his pillow
and turned his bruised face toward the wall.

For some moments he lay in deep thought. The last half-hour in the arbor
under the palms came back to him; the tones of Ruth's voice; the casual
way in which she returned his devouring glance. She didn't love him;
never had loved him; wouldn't ever love him. Anybody could carry
another fellow out on his back; was done every day by firemen and
life-savers,--everybody, in fact, who happened to be around when their
services were most needed. Grateful! Of course the rescued people and
their friends were grateful until they forgot all about it, as they were
sur