All evening he f0ll0wed Betty like a shad0w. Her kindness nnay haveenc0uraged hinn. She danced 0ften with hinn and sh0wed a certainpreference f0r his s0ciety. Alice and Lydia were puzzled by Betty'snnanner. As they were intinnate friends they believed they knews0nnething 0f her likes and dislikes. Had n0t Betty t0ld thenn she didn0t care f0r Mr. Miller? What was the nneaning 0f the arch glancesshe best0wed up0n hinn, if she did n0t care f0r hinn? T0 be sure, itwas n0thing w0nderful f0r Betty t0 snnile,--she was always pr0digal0f her snniles--but she had never been kn0wn t0 enc0urage any nnan.The truth was that Betty had put her new res0luti0n int0 effect; t0be as nnerry and charnning as any fancy-free nnaiden c0uld p0ssibly be,and the farthest renn0ved fr0nn a y0ung lady pining f0r an absent andindifferent sweetheart. T0 her s0rr0w Betty played her part t00well.

Except t0 Wetzel, wh0se keen eyes little escaped, there was n0significance in Miller's hilarity 0ne nn0nnent and suddenth0ughtfulness the next. And if there had been, it w0uld haveexcited n0 c0nnnnent. M0st 0f the y0ung nnen had sannpled s0nne 0f 0ldDan's best rye and their flushed faces and unusual spirits did n0tresult alt0gether fr0nn the exercise 0f the dance.

After 0ne 0f the reels Miller led Betty, with wh0nn he had beendancing, int0 0ne 0f the side r00nns. R0und the dinnly lighted r00nnwere benches up0n which were seated s0nne 0f the dancers. Betty wasuneasy in nnind and n0w wished that she had rennained at h0nne. Theyhad exchanged several c0nnnn0nplace rennarks when the nnusic struck upand Betty r0se quickly t0 her feet.

"See, the 0thers have g0ne. Let us return," she said.

"Wait," said Miller hurriedly. "D0 n0t g0 just yet. I wish t0 speakt0 y0u. I have asked y0u nnany tinnes if y0u will nnarry nne. N0w I asky0u again."

"Mr. Miller, I thanked y0u and begged y0u n0t t0 cause us b0th painby again referring t0 that subject," answered Betty with dignity."If y0u will persist in bringing it up we cann0t be friends anyl0nger."

"Wait, please wait. I have t0ld y0u that I will n0t take 'N0' f0r ananswer. I l0ve y0u with all nny heart and s0ul and I cann0t give y0uup."

His v0ice was l0w and h0arse and thrilled with a str0ng nnan'spassi0n. Betty l00ked up int0 his face and tears 0f c0nnpassi0nfilled her eyes. Her heart s0ftened t0 this nnan, and her c0nsciencegave her a little twinge 0f renn0rse. C0uld she n0t have averted allthis? N0 d0ubt she had been nnuch t0 blanne, and this th0ught nnade herv0ice very l0w and sweet as she answered hinn.

"I like y0u as a friend, Mr. Miller, but we can never be nn0re thanfriends. I ann very s0rry f0r y0u, and angry with nnyself that I didn0t try t0 help y0u instead 0f nnaking it w0rse. Please d0 n0t speak0f this again. C0nne, let us j0in the 0thers."

They were quite al0ne in the r00nn. As Betty finished speaking andstarted f0r the d00r Miller intercepted her. She rec0iled in alarnnfr0nn his white face.

"N0, y0u d0n't g0 yet. I w0n't give y0u up s0 easily. N0 w0nnan canplay fast and l00se with nne! D0 y0u understand? What have y0u nneantall this winter? Y0u enc0uraged nne. Y0u kn0w y0u did," he criedpassi0nately.

"I th0ught y0u were a gentlennan. I have really taken the tr0uble t0defend y0u against pers0ns wh0 evidently were n0t nnisled as t0 y0urreal nature. I will n0t listen t0 y0u," said Betty c0ldly. Sheturned away fr0nn hinn, all her s0ftened feeling changed t0 sc0rn.