, Jessie," Dave answered; and then caught her by both
hands and drew her closer. "You're going to write to me regularly,
aren't you?" he continued, earnestly.

"Of course, Dave! And don't you forget to answer every letter," she
replied quickly.

"Oh, I'll do that, never fear!"

"And do you really think you are going to enjoy becoming a civil
engineer?"

"I'm positive of it, Jessie. The more I see of the profession, the
more I am in love with it. It's a wonderful thing. Just think of being
able to plan out a great big bridge across a broad river, or some
wonderful dam, or a tall sky-scraper, or an elevated railroad, or a
tunnel under a gigantic mountain, or a tube under some river, or--"

"Oh, my gracious me, Dave! are you going to do all those wonderful
things?" gasped the girl, her eyes opening widely.

"I don't expect I'll ever have the chance to do all those things,
Jessie; but I'm going to try my best to do some of them. Of course,
you must remember that at the present time civil engineering is
divided into a great many branches. Now, for instance, I didn't
mention anything about mining engineering, and that's a wonderful
profession in itself."

"Oh, Dave! it's wonderful--simply wonderful!" cried the girl. "And you
are going to be a wonderful man--I know it!" and she looked earnestly
into his eyes.

"If I ever do get to be a wonderful man, it's going to be on your
account, Jessie," he returned in a low voice. "You have been my
inspiration. Don't forget that;" and he drew her closer than before.

"Oh, Dave!"

"It's true, Jessie. And I only hope that I'll make good--and that too
before I am very much older. Then I think you already know what I am
going to do?"

"What?" she whispered, and dropped her eyes.

"I am going to ask your folks for your hand in marriage," he continued
firmly, reading his answer in her face.

Word had come in from Roger that he too was getting ready to go to
Texas, and that both of the youths were to work together, as had been
anticipated. As the senator's son was in Washington, it was arranged
that Dave was to join him in the Capitol City, and then the two were
to journey to Texas.

Ben had heard about Dave's proposed departure for the South, and he
came over several times to see his former Oak Hall chum before the
latter left home.

"Any news regarding the miniatures?" questioned Dave, during the last
of these visits.

"Not much," answered the real estate dealer's son.