She took his arm and they walked quietly out under the trailing vines of myrtle, which were trained to droop from the eaves of the old farm-house. They came to an old-fashioned settee that was enfolded in the drooping vines and formed an arbor. Here they sat down. Soon Paul said, “Miss Spaulding, have you been down to the lake since Monday?” His companion blushed deeply as she answered. “I have not, sir; you must have heard all I said, did you not? I was very lonely that day—my poor mother far away and I alone here. My cousins are very kind to me, very kind indeed, or I do not know what I should do.” “Will you accept the friendship of a stranger? As you know but little about me that is all I will ask now. I never saw a lady in all my wanderings who ever drew such words of acknowledgment from me before. All I ask is friendship, and when you know me better perhaps I shall ask you for this little hand.” He gently raised her hand to his lips as he was speaking. She drew it quickly from him saying: “Sir, please pardon me if I have given you occasion to make the declaration. The truth we should tell at all times; perhaps you think me rich; if so, you are mistaken. I am very poor. Such as you needs not the friendship of one beneath him.” Truth and honesty shone in her dark, brown eyes as she turned her head away to hide the gathering tears. It pained her very much to tell him whom she loved. She had been taught to shun deceitfulness, and she thought it decisively her duty to tell him she was poor, no matter how it pained her to do so. She spoke deliberately, but in a dejected manner. She was pale, with a faint flush on her cheeks that was drawn there by the enthusiasm she was forced to exercise. “Nettie, darling, you do not know me. It is not wealth I wish. It is this little being by my side. She is rich in voice, rich in beauty, and richer still in mind. Do not say wealth to me again—it hurts my feelings.” As he spoke he gently drew the little form nearer to him and rested her head on his great, manly breast. “Only four days have I known you, yet it seems to me a life time.” Nettie quickly arose saying: “Please, sir, say no more to me; always remember me as your true friend, one who will not do you an unkindness. Never say aught of this meeting to anyone for my sake and for yours, and in the future if you prove faithful to me I am yours.” She turned and fled away, leaving him sitting in the twilight deeply touched. How long he had been there he knew not. Warren Hilton’s voice brought him to his senses as he said, “Paul, where is my cousin? I have not seen her since you came out together.” “Oh, Warren! I do not know; she abruptly left me here, and how long I have been here I know not. Oh, I have stayed too long. I must surely go home.” He quickly arose, and he looked so sad Warren really pitied him as he said, “Why, Paul, are you sick?” “Oh, no,” answered Paul; “only sorry I have stayed from home so long.”