forgotten name, "Ogilvie!" Viewed in
print, after an hour's reflection, the story was less horrible than when
it had flashed upon her in Hertha's bedroom. A judge for a grandfather
was an alleviating circumstance. But the reality was bad enough. That
the girl still clung to the Negroes was the worst feature. Common sense
must soon show her, however, both the wickedness and the folly of such
an attitude. She put the paper carefully away, resolved that Dick should
see it when he came back home.

CHAPTER XXXII

"Dick!"

It was Friday afternoon. Hertha had returned from school, her books on
her arm, happy in the realization that in one week vacation would be at
hand. She had no idea that she should find Richard Brown standing in his
doorway, smiling at her.

Never had he seemed so bright and attractive. He had taken off his
business clothes and wore a white flannel shirt and white trousers. He
looked a young happy boy, and was indeed supremely happy to be back and
with her again. "Dick," she had cried and started to shift her books
that she might hold out her hand. But before she could accomplish her
purpose he had her in his arms. Only for a moment; so swift a moment
that she could not draw away or resent it, her surprise was too great.

"I didn't do anything," he cried quickly, "I reckon we were both
startled. My, but it's good to be back home! Here! let me take your
books. Ain't it hot though! The first hot weather I've struck yet. Makes
you think of the South only they can't get it as warm down there as up
here where the sidewalks are baking all day. Guess what I saw this noon?
A boy frying pancakes on the pavement. Just dropped the mixture on the
hot stone and in a jiffy the cake was done, nice and brown and crisp
around the edges. That beats it our way, don't it?"

He spoke with reckless extravagance, anxious to retrieve any mistake he
may have made, looking at her in the meantime with devouring eyes. There
was nothing that he missed, and though he did not speak of it he cursed
inwardly the work that made her pale and thin and that he believed had
caused the harassed expression in her face.

"You look mighty well in your new clothes," Hertha said, relieving her
embarrassment by surveying with exaggerated approval his white apparel.

"Do I? Glad you like 'em. I found some of the fellows were going in for
them and I thought I would. I mean to dress better anyway. A man on the
road ought to have the lat