as the hearty reply. "Who doesn't?"

"Elise," and Azalea pouted at the girl.

"Fiddlesticks!" said Elise, gaily. "Never mind, Azalea, I'll take your
joke in good part."

For Elise had suddenly decided that she didn't want to spoil Patty's
Fair by having a quarrel with her guest. So, though a good deal
perturbed by the sampler incident, she preferred to drop the subject.

Azalea understood, and was glad to be let off so easily, though she felt
sure Elise would tell Patty all about it later.

With Azalea, however, out of sight was out of mind, and she walked away
with young Gale in a merry mood.

As they strolled along, a man stepped toward them, and raising his cap
in a respectful way, asked Azalea if he might have a few words with her,
alone.

He had a business-like air, and though polite, was, quite evidently, not
a man of social position.

Gale stared at him, and Azalea grew very red and confused.

"I--well--not just now," she said, hesitatingly. "I'll see you some
other time."

"No, miss, that won't do," The man was courteous, but decided,--and had
a manner that bespoke authority.

"If I'm in the way, I'll vanish," Raymond said, laughing a little.

"Well--if you will--" Azalea looked at him beseechingly. "I'll explain
later."

So Gale walked off by himself and Azalea turned a troubled face to the
man.

"Mr. Merritt," she said, "I can't have anything more to do with the
whole affair. I'm quite sure my relatives here wouldn't approve of it,
and I can't keep the matter secret any longer."

"But you _must_ come, Miss Thorpe. By a strange coincidence you are
greatly needed. Miss Frawley has broken her ankle--"

"She has!" Azalea's eyes sparkled, "Oh,--I don't mean I'm not sorry for
her,--I am, indeed! But--"

"But it gives you a chance! A wonderful chance,--and if you can make
good--"

"Oh, I can! I will! Shall I come now?"

"No; but you must come to-morrow morning at nine, sharp. Will you?"

"Indeed I will! I'll be there on time."

"And tell your people about it,--don't you think you'd better?"

"Oh," Azalea's face fell. "I don't know. Suppose they refuse to let me
go!"

"How can they? They have no real control over you."

"No,--but I'd hate to go against their expressed disapproval."

"Nonsense! This is your first chance at a career. Don't muff it, now!
Why, just your skill at archery is enough to put you over! It's the very
place for you! Western doings, riding, shooting, lassoing, all