Chicago; it was fiercely
hot there."

The path was not wide enough for two and she walked before him. After
they had exhausted the heat as a topic, silence fell upon them. He still
swung his hat in his hand. Once or twice he smote his stick smartly upon
the ground. He timed his pace to hers, keeping close, his eyes upon her
straight slender figure. When they reached the lane they walked together
until they came to the highway, which they followed to the house. An oil
lamp marked the walk that led through Mrs. Owen's flower garden.

"Aren't you coming in, Mr. Bassett?" asked Sylvia, as they paused.

Her hand clicked the latch and the little white-washed gate swung open.
In the lamplight their eyes met again.

"I'm sorry, but I must go home. This is the first time I've been here
this summer, and my stay is short. I must be off again to-morrow."

"Oh, that's too bad! Marian has been telling me that you would stay a
month, she will be terribly disappointed"

"My Western trip took more time than I expected I have a good deal to do
at Fraserville and must get back there"

She stepped inside, thinking he delayed out of courtesy to her, but to
her surprise he fastened the latch deliberately and lingered.

"They tell me you and your grandfather live at Montgomery. It's a
charming town, one of the most interesting in the state."

"Yes, Mr. Bassett. My grandfather taught in the college there."

"I have often heard of Professor Kelton, of course. He's a citizen our
state is proud of. Mrs. Bassett says you're going to college this
fall--to Wellesley, is it? Mrs. Bassett has an idea that Marian ought to
have a college education. What do you think about it?"

He smiled kindly, and there was kindness in his deep voice.

"I think girls should go who want to go," answered Sylvia, her hands on
the pickets of the gate.

"You speak like a politician," laughed Bassett. "That's exactly what I
think; and I haven't seen that Marian is dying for a college career."

"She has plenty of time to think of it," Sylvia replied. "I'm ever so
much older"; and this seemed to dispose of that matter.

"You are staying here some time?"

"Another week. It seems that we've hardly been here a day."

"You are fortunate in having Mrs. Owen for a friend. She is a very
unusual woman."

"The most wonderful person I ever knew!" responded Sylvia warmly.

He still showed no haste to leave her, though he had just reached
Waupegan, and was going aw