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"You toldwhat you said," he complained bitterly

She realized the weakness of his defense--that he had saved hiirl he claimed to love, simply because she had offered herself as a sacrifice in his place She thought of another man, who, at the risk of his life, had held back the half dozen pursuers just to give a better chance to a girl he had not knoeek She thought of the cattleayly into this valley of ene to face any punish he had done her Her brother, too, pointed the sah he had been in his power Not one of them would have done what Tom Dixon, in his panic terror, had allowed himself to do But they were s to self-respect rather than to life This youth had er toward him--only a kindly pity, and a touch of contempt which she could not help

"No--I don't blame you, Tom," she told him, very kindly "But I can't marry you I couldn't if you explained till Christmas That is final Now let us be friends"

She held out her hand He looked at it through the tears of mortification that were in his eyes, dashed it aside with an oath, swung to the saddle, and galloped down the road

Phyllis gave a wistful sigh Tears filiven her apples and candy hearts when he was in the third grade and she learning her A, B, C So she felt a heartache to see hio like this Their friendship was shattered, too Nor had she experience enough to know that this could not have endured, save as a foriven it Yet she knew hih now to be sure that it was his vanity and self-esteem that were hurt, and not his love He would soon find consolation airls, upon whom he had been used to lavish his attentions at intervals when she was not handy to receive them

"Was Tom Dixon mean to you, teacher?"

Little five-year-old Ji before her, feet apart, fists knotted, and brow furrowed She swooped upon her champion and snatched him up for a kiss

"Nobody has been mean to teacher, Jiht, honey To he'll know it is"