Then, in spite of herself, Katy looked up, to find David looking down upon her. An incredible notion came into her mind, an astounding premonition of what he meant to say. If she had waited an instant David would have spoken, would have mastered the overwhelming fear that, after all, the hunger of his heart was not to be satisfied. But being still Katy, she could not wait, would not wait, but rushed once more into speech, broken, tearful. "I was crazy in my youth," gasped Katy. "I was _wild_. I cannot understand myself. Perhaps there are years when we are crazy. But I got over it. I got some sense. I was made to have sense. Trouble came upon me. I was tamed. Then I went to live at your house and I read your books, and you used to come home, and you were so wise and--and--so--so different from _everybody_--" Did any one think for an instant that Katy's day of romance was past?--"I thought it would kill me because I had been such a fool and you knew it. I thought you must do worse than hate me, I thought you must despise me. I thought--" David put out his arm. With shaking voice he laughed. "Oh, foolishness!" said David. He bent his cheek upon her forehead. "I have loved you as long as I can remember, Katy." Katy clasped her hands across her beating heart, and closed her eyes. "I am not prepared," said she in a whisper. "I am not educated! I am nothing! But, oh!" cried Katy Gaumer in the language of the Sunday-School book, "If you will give me a little time, I will bring home my sheaves!" THE END The Riverside Press CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS U . S . A The Clarion By Samuel Hopkins Adams The story of an American city, the men who controlled it, the young editor who attempted to reform it, and the audacious girl who helped sway its destinies. "A vivid and picturesque story."--_Boston Transcript._ "One of the most important novels of the year--a vivid, strong, sincere story."--_New Orleans Times-Picayune._ "A tremendously interesting novel--vivid and gripping."--_Chicago Tribune._ "One of the most interestingly stirring stories of modern life yet published ... vividly told and of burning interest."--_Philadelphia Public Ledger._ Illustrated. $1.35 _net_. HOUGHTON BOSTON MIFFLIN [Illustration] AND COMPANY NEW YORK THE POET By Meredith Nicholson A clever, kindly portrait of a famous living poet, interwoven with a charming love story. "Not since Henry Harland told us the story of the gentle Cardinal and his snuffbox, have we had anything as idyllic as Meredith Nicholson's 'The Poet.'"--_New York Evening Sun._