d time he had asked her, and she could not well refuse
him, so, together they joined the throng of richly garbed men and women
who promenaded up and down the corridor. She felt poorly clad as she
noted the wonderful evening dresses of the women. Here were gowns such
as she had seen on the figures in the department store, rainbow colors
and with them thin lacy black and soft cream and ivory white. The people
indeed seemed very like a show, a line of models moving up and down that
they might be viewed each by the other; it was only when Dick, to hide
his shyness at the strange scene, talked loudly and familiarly, that
their amused glances made her appreciate they were fully alive.

"I'd like a gown like that," she said to Dick in a confidential tone as
a pretty girl went by in a soft filmy blue silk.

"Shall I ask her for it?" He turned as though to stop the gown's owner.

"Don't be silly," was Hertha's sufficient answer.

"That's a grand fellow walking with her," Dick announced. "He might be a
colonel out of uniform, but the girl isn't in it with you."

"Well, you needn't tell every one your opinion, please."

She blushed as she spoke for they had attracted the attention of the
people about them. A middle-aged gentleman, whose seat she knew was
behind Dick's, was smiling and she quite erroneously believed was
enjoying her discomfiture. "Let's go back," she suggested, touching Dick
lightly on the arm; and the youth, happy at even so slight a sign of
favor, and anxious to do her least bidding, returned with her to their
seats.

"You aren't going back to your old work again, now are you?" he asked.

"No."

"I was thinking, if you want to take up stenography, I know the best
school in town. It's across the river, a mighty nice place, where you'll
meet a good class of girls. It don't cost such a lot, and you can enter
any time you want."

"Yes?"

"And there's something I want to talk with you about. It's really
important. Won't you take a walk with me to-morrow?"

"I don't know, I haven't much time. You see, I want to go to church in
the morning and I'm going out to dinner at night."

"Who are you going with?"

The question was asked with some imperiousness.

"With a friend."

"A gentleman friend?"

Defiantly. "I don't think that is anything you need to know."

"Oh, of course it's none of my business, you needn't tell me that. But
say, won't you go out first with me? I'll be around at two o'clock and
br