"If I stay," he pressed hotly, "if I settle down and behave myself,
and make good, you'll promise me--"

"Jimpson!" thundered a familiar voice from the road. "That good-for-
nothing, lazy nigger, why don't he come help me with these things?
Jimpson!"

"I'll tell him, Dad!" called Miss Lady, springing from the hammock.

"But wait!" pleaded Donald, "just a minute. I've got to beat that
storm to town, and tell Decker the trip is off. But I'll be back in
the morning! Perhaps to breakfast. Oh, my darling, I am so happy! Say
you love me! Say it!"

Old Mike stirred in his slumbers, then opened one eye. It was
evidently time for him to take some action. When two young people are
standing very close with clasped hands and love-lit eyes in the dim
fragrance of an old garden, even a dog of a chaperon knows that it is
time to interfere! With great presence of mind he discovered an
imaginary squirrel in the hedge directly beside them, and set up such
a furious barking that Miss Lady looked around and laughed. For a
second she stood, her head thrown back, a teasing, half-shy, half-
daring look on her face, then she dropped a swift kiss on the hand
that clasped hers, and without a word went flying crimson-cheeked up
the lilac-bordered path.