?" she asked. "Come soon, and
bring Miss Comstock for a visit. All of us will be so glad to have her."

Philip beamed on Polly. "I'll see about that," he said. "Sounds pretty
good. Elnora, Henderson is in trouble with his automobile. He wants me
to go to Onabasha with him to show him where the doctor lives, and make
repairs so he can start back this evening. It will take about two hours.
May I go?"

"Of course, you must go," she said, laughing lightly. "You can't leave
your sister. Why don't you return to Chicago with them? There is plenty
of room, and you could have a fine visit."

"I'll be back in just two hours," said Philip. "While I am gone, you be
thinking over what we were talking of when the folks came."

"Miss Comstock can go with us as well as not," said Polly. "That back
seat was made for three, and I can sit on your lap."

"Come on! Do come!" urged Philip instantly, and Tom Levering joined him,
but Henderson and Edith silently waited at the gate.

"No, thank you," laughed Elnora. "That would crowd you, and it's warm
and dusty. We will say good-bye here."

She offered her hand to all of them, and when she came to Philip she
gave him one long steady look in the eyes, then shook hands with him
also.

CHAPTER XXIII

WHEREIN ELNORA REACHES A DECISION, AND FRECKLES AND THE ANGEL APPEAR

"Well, she came, didn't she?" remarked Mrs. Comstock to Elnora as they
watched the automobile speed down the road. As it turned the Limberlost
corner, Philip arose and waved to them.

"She hasn't got him yet, anyway," said Mrs. Comstock, taking heart.
"What's that on your finger, and what did she say to you?"

Elnora explained about the ring as she drew it off.

"I have several letters to write, then I am going to change my dress and
walk down toward Aunt Margaret's for a little exercise. I may meet
some of them, and I don't want them to see this ring. You keep it until
Philip comes," said Elnora. "As for what Miss Carr said to me, many
things, two of importance: one, that I lacked every social requirement
necessary for the happiness of Philip Ammon, and that if I married him I
would see inside a month that he was ashamed of me----"

"Aw, shockins!" scorned Mrs. Comstock. "Go on!"

"The other was that she has been engaged to him for years, that he
belongs to her, and she refuses to give him up. She said that if he were
in her presence one hour, she would have him under a mysterious thing
she calls 'her s