Miss Gibbie Gault

which looked into his and laughed also. "I never even tried as much as a sentence. She must have some

to be. And she doesn't mind saying what other people think. I like her." She stood still. "Did you ever see such an improvement in a place as there has been in the woolen mills in the past year? Every window, back, front, and sides, has its box of flowers, and the grounds are downright pretty. I know you th

ewer woolen mills of which Mr. Moon was president. "I suppose I did think it was nonsense, putting flower-boxes in factory windows, but if the people like them I'm glad they're there. It must be rather dreary pegging aw

he factories are so much cleaner. Each has a rest-room, and something we call a dining room, where coffee and sandwiches and soup are served every day at cost, just a few pennies for each person. Some of these times we hope there is going to be a re

asylum, where the early years of Mary Cary's life had been spent, stood out clearly against the soft dusk of twilight, and the street, now quite deserted, stretched in a straight tree-bordered line as far as the eye could see. The

nge and pink, and, as the colors were absorbed, grew warmer, fainter, widened, narrowed, and were

n the sky; noted the soft green of trees and grass, the blossoming of old-fashioned flowers in gardens of another day, reached out hands

ver learn anything in a book that would do them as much good as a beautiful sunset. And yet they're shut up in the house on an evening like this studying something about the sun, perhaps, and not allowed to see its glories and wonders, b

rs. "But there's been a big change in this place since you were here. That wing was a great improvement. Looks

ir walk and she looked up. "I d

d wiped his face, and as he put it back in h

were in it and I cou

you couldn't. You wouldn't have

school in the country, get you beautiful clothes, and give you everythi

e now at the end of the asylum yard, enclosed by its high wooden fence, and as they started to g

rtain paling, and with her heel she made a

y time I came for it my heart nearly jumped in the hole you hid it in, I was so afraid

n't. They were awfully n

front of the house for half an hour before I went home. Did you know the first time I ever saw you you were hanging over that wall? It was on a Sunday afternoon and I asked the boy with me what was your name. From th

g over the wall that I made up my mind I was going to marry you, or the Su

t. "I'm not going to listen to things like that. Besides, it's after su

ome now her own. "If you don't want to hear me I'll wait until later." He smiled in the half-knowing face. "You are ti

ve just begun to really live here-to start some things; to get used to having a home of my own; to knowing all the people. And then"

o ask it. For ten years I have had but one thought, one hope, one dream, if you will. It took me through college that I might please you; made me settle down to work

u and I. We have always been, and I don't want you to marry anybody-not even me." She turned to him, but she did not hear his quick, indrawing breath. "I need you too much, John.

ouldn'

er head. "I'd be thinking

eyes looked into her unawakened ones.

gent, and if Martha didn't watch her-" She threw the stripped twig away impetuously. "I am not going to get married, I'm not. I don't see why men always ta

He looked down on her, frowning slightly,

Mary. Many things you

at lightly. I don'

make me as cross and huffy and injured as it seems to do some people

r the unh

is voice was new. Bittern

he rest? Why can't we keep on in the old way, John

u. And you-you need me, Mary. You are so alone here, except for Miss Gibbie, and

oked at him, eyebrows slightly raised. "I don't think that expression on your face suits you. And if I've got to look at it all through sup

wonder if you will ever grow up? And I wonder, also, if

-covered pillars marking the entrance to Tree Hill,

faithful," he said,