"I can't say yes today."

"Why--why?"

"You've swept me off my feet--I--I can't think."

"I don't want you to think--I want you to marry me
right now."

"I must have a little time."

His face fell in despair.

"Say, little girl, don't turn me down--you'll kill
me."

"I'm not turning you down," she protested tenderly.
"I only want time to see that I'm not crazy. I have to
pinch myself to see if I'm awake. It all seems a
dream"--she paused and lifted her radiant face to his--
"a beautiful dream--the most wonderful my soul has ever
seen. I must be sure it's real!"

He drew her into his arms, and her body again
relaxed in surrender as his lips touched hers.

"Isn't that the real thing?" he laughed.

She lay very still, her eyes closed, her face a