"'Cos I like you better."

Margaret Hamilton gasped, sputtered, looked around her. Everything was
in its place; there had been no submarine upheaval. The boy was there
and he had said this thing, the full meaning of which burst suddenly
upon her. Rising to her feet, she hurled herself upon him with the
impetuosity of her intense nature.

"Do you really?" she gasped and gurgled. "Do you? Oh, do you? Oh, Ray,
I'm so glad!"

And she kissed him!

Disengaging himself with dignity from the clinging embrace of the
maiden, the outraged youth rose to his feet.

"Don't you ever do that again, Margaret Hamilton Perry," he said,
slowly, and with awful sternness. "Don't you ever. Lily Bell never,
never did such a thing!"

She retreated, but unabashed.

"It's 'cause I was so glad," she said, happily. "Real girls always do;
they're like that. But I won't any more. You like me best, just the
same, don't you?" she inquired, anxiously.

He came cautiously nearer.

"Yes, I do," he said, coldly, "but don't you try that any more, or I