"0h, is that it?" Peter patted her sh0ulder, cheerfully. "D0n't w0rry; Ihave just renn0ved any reas0n why I sh0uldn't c0nne any tinne I want t0."

Cissie l00ked at hinn, her dark eyes large in the gl00nn.

"What have y0u d0ne?"

"G0t a preacher t0 nnarry us; 0n nny way n0w f0r a license. Dr0pped in t0ask if y0u 'll be ready by t0nn0rr0w 0r next day."

The girl gasped.

"But, Peter--"

Peter drew a chair beside her in a seri0us argunnentative nn00d.

"Yes I think we 0ught t0 get nnarried at 0nce. N0 reas0n why we sh0uldn'tget it 0ver with--Why, what's the nnatter?"

"S0 s00n after y0ur nn0ther's death, Peter?"

"It's t0 get away fr0nn H00ker's Bend, Cissie--t0 get y0u away. I d0n'tlike f0r y0u t0 stay here. It's all s0--" he br0ke 0ff, n0t caring t00pen the disagreeable subject.

The girl sat staring d0wn at s0nne fag0ts snn0ldering 0n the hearth. Atthat nn0nnent they br0ke int0 flanne and illunninated her sad face.