hilip. "I am not at all alarmed but I am very much
ashamed. I have been well enough for the past month to have gone home
and helped him with some critical cases that were keeping him at work in
this heat. I was enjoying myself so I wouldn't offer to go, and he would
not ask me to come, so long as he could help it. I have allowed him to
overtax himself until he is down, and mother and Polly are north at our
cottage. He's never been sick before, and it's probable I am to blame
that he is now."

"He intended you to stay this long when you came," urged Elnora.

"Yes, but it's hot in Chicago. I should have remembered him. He is
always thinking of me. Possibly he has needed me for days. I am ashamed
to go to him in splendid condition and admit that I was having such a
fine time I forgot to come home."

"You have had a fine time, then?" asked Elnora.

They had reached the fence. Philip vaulted over to take a short cut
across the fields. He turned and looked at her.

"The best, the sweetest, and most wholesome time any man ever had in
this world," he said. "Elnora, if I talked hours I couldn't make you
understand what a girl I think you are. I never in all my life hated
anything as I hate leaving you. It seems to me that I have not strength
to do it."

"If you have learned anything worth while from me," said Elnora, "that
should be it. Just to have strength to go to your duty, and to go
quickly."

He caught the hand she held out to him in both his. "Elnora, these days
we have had together, have they been sweet to you?"

"Beautiful days!" said Elnora. "Each like a perfect dream to be thought
over and over all my life. Oh, they have been the only really happy days
I've ever known; these days rich with mother's love, and doing useful
work with your help. Good-bye! You must hurry!"

Philip gazed at her. He tried to drop her hand, only clutched it closer.
Suddenly he drew her toward him. "Elnora," he whispered, "will you kiss
me good-bye?"

Elnora drew back and stared at him with wide eyes. "I'd strike you
sooner!" she said. "Have I ever said or done anything in your presence
that made you feel free to ask that, Philip Ammon?"

"No!" panted Philip. "No! I think so much of you I wanted to touch your
lips once before I left you. You know, Elnora----"

"Don't distress yourself," said Elnora calmly. "I am broad enough to
judge you sanely. I know what you mean. It would be no harm to you. It
would not matter to me, but her