"Didn't yer pa git 'nough?" questioned Joel. "Oh yes," said Randy, "but I want this for something else. I'll take eight yards." "Why that's 'nough for a whole gaown," said Joel, but a shade of annoyance passed over Randy's sweet face and as she showed no disposition to explain, the clerk cut off the number of yards with the injured air of one whose kindly interest had been unappreciated. When the cloth had been made into a neat parcel, Joel looked up and extended his hand for payment, when to his utter astonishment, Randy informed him that she had yet another errand. "I'll look at some shoes now," she said with quite an air, for this was her first shopping trip and a very happy one. "Fer yourself, Randy?" asked Joel. "I wish them to be _my size_, so I'll try them on," was the answer. "Well ef they're ter be your size, they're to be yourn, ain't they?" queried Joel, determined if possible to know all about this wild extravagance. Randy had changed her gold piece for a bill before she left home, well knowing that the bill would attract less attention. Assuming not to have heard his question, Randy took her parcels, and gave Joel her bill. Joel took the money, but he could not resist the temptation to ask one more question. "Mebbe ye didn't know that yer pa bought a pair er shoes jest that size t'other night, did ye?" No one person was ever known to have bought two pairs of shoes and two dresses at Barnes' store within a week, and the clerk was wild with curiosity, but just as he was about to repeat his question, Jotham entered the store, and Joel turned to see what his errand might be. "Nothing to-day," said Jotham, "I saw Randy in here, and I thought I'd offer to take her bundles." Together they left the store, and as they turned into the quiet, shady road Randy said, "I think I never was more glad to see you, Jotham, than when I turned and saw you in the doorway of the store." "Then I'm doubly glad I came," said Jotham. "Well, Joel Simpkins thought 'twas the funniest thing that I should be buying something when father was not with me, and he asked just every question that he could think of except one. He didn't ask me where I got my money, and I do believe he would have asked me that if you hadn't come in just when you did." "O Randy, it's a funny sight to see you provoked," said Jotham with a hearty laugh. "I know that he is an inquisitive fellow. "You know I've been studying this summer with the young professor who has been boarding at our house, and father has arranged it so that when he returns to teach at the university I shall go back with him, not to the college of course, but as his private pupil. I shall work very hard at my studies and hope another year to enter college. "Well, father was speaking to Mr. Barnes of my aspirations, and his plans for me, when Joel stepped over to where they stood talking, and said he,