chair, her hoop skirt spreading her tarlatan flounces some space
around her.

"Why, yes, indeed, now that I look at you, the woods, gray
moss, three frightened young ladies; it was in the dusk of evening as
I was riding from McKinney, all of that picture returns," he put his
forefinger to his lips, and looked down at the floor in deep
reflection.

For a moment Renestine was silent, then turned rosy red. "Oh,
Mr. Starr, was it you who brought us out of the Wilderness and
restored us to our families? You appeared at the most fortunate
moment, we were really lost," and she laughed heartily. "You are a
stranger here, Mr. Starr?"

"Not altogether. I have visited here before on business.
Where I live it is lonesome for me and I take my vacations with much
the spirit of a school boy. Shall we dance?"

The "Kiss Waltz" was a great favorite and the opening bars
were beginning, "Hun" Williams, leader of the orchestra, putting a
good swing into it. Renestine and Jaffrey glided with the rhythm of
the music and danced until the last strains closed the tuneful
composition. Throwing a lace scarf about her shoulders, Jaffray led
Renestine to the balcony. The moon was bright as day and the early May
dew brought out the fragrance of the jessamine and clematis climbing
over the balustrade.

They stood for a time without speaking, feeling the spell of
the Southern spring time.