thin after a while, I suppose." The tips of Tom's right shoe made a
small circle on the brick pavement, but presently he looked up at me.
"It's pretty queer for me to be telling things like this, but you
always did understand a fellow. I've often wished I could come and
see you. Madeleine and I were engaged once."

"Why aren't you engaged now? Tell me anything you want. What
happened?"

"Mother Swink happened!" Tom's words came jerkily. "She wouldn't
even let me talk to her; made a devil of a row, dragged Madeleine all
around Europe, wouldn't let her have a letter from me--sent them back
herself--and told Madeleine if she married me she would never speak
to me."

"That ought to have given you courage. Why didn't you marry
Madeleine?"

"I couldn't get hold of her. And, besides, she got so worked up that
she went all to pieces, and I--I wasn't patient enough, I guess.
When they came back I managed to see her once, but we both got mad
and said things we shouldn't, and she gave me up. I heard Harrie had
been giving her a rush in El Paso, and if Mrs. Swink can manage it
she'll have Madeleine engaged to him before he knows how it happened."

"Are you able to marry, Tom? Is there any reason why you shouldn't?"

"No, there isn't." His head went up. "I can't give her what her
mother can, but I can take care of her all right. On the first of
next May father makes me general manager of the business. He hasn't