hat sort of thing!"

"Well, I only did what I thought was right," Archie declared doggedly.
"I wasn't weighing the consequences."

The Governor, filling his pipe, lifted a hand to emphasize the
"splendid" with which he received this statement.

"Splendid, my dear Archie, to see how beautifully you rose to the
situation--a situation that spoke powerfully to your generous heart! If
there has been any error it is mine. I should have known from the way
you played up to the Seebrook girl that you were far too susceptible to
be trusted with women. The error is mine; not yours, Archie; I don't
blame you a particle. Indeed the incident warms my heart to you. Sally
is a winsome lass; she has a way with her, that girl!"

"I would have done the same thing for any girl in like circumstances,"
Archie declared, pacing the floor with shoulders erect.

"I dare say you would! Your heart and your sword are at the command of
any pretty jade who squints at you! But when I suggested that it might
be well for you to keep in practice I didn't mean for you to make a
monkey of yourself. Your true love--what did you say her name is?"

To recall Isabel to his memory was a greater mockery than the Governor
knew, but Archie met the question with well-feigned unconcern.

"I didn't say," he answered; "but her name is Isabel."

"Ah! One of the few really perfect names in the whole list! Rather more
style to it than Sally! And yet Sally has been used to good advantage by
the balladists. To 'Sally in Our Alley,' we might add Sally at the Churn
or Sally Softly Singing in the Corn, or Sally Leading Archie by the Ear.
The possibilities are exquisite."

"If you don't mind," said Archie with dignity, "we'll stop talking
nonsense. I want to know what happened."

"Just a little curious, are you, as to what followed your amazing breach
of hospitality? Ran away with a pretty girl, assisted in marrying her to
an undesirable son-in-law, and now you want to know how the old folks
take it! Oh, Archie, for sheer innocence you are a wonder!"

"Walker had no right to force a girl like Sally to marry an old
curmudgeon she hated. I never hesitated as to the course I should take
after she told me her story. The marriage was in proper form and I
haven't a single regret!"

The Governor rocked with delight.

"You didn't miss a stroke!" he exclaimed wiping the tears from his eyes.
"The marriage satisfied all legal requirements. Your work was only too
well done!