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by a touring…car and a station wagon。 In the occupants of the car
he recognized all the members of the Farrar family； except Miss
Farrar。 In the station wagon were all of the Farrar servants。
Miss Farrar herself was leaning upon the gate and waving them a
farewell。 The touring…car moved off down the road； the station
wagon followed； Miss Farrar was alone。 Lathrop scorched toward
her； and when he was opposite the gate； dug his toes in the dust
and halted。 When he lifted his broad…brimmed campaign hat； Miss
Farrar exclaimed both with surprise and displeasure。 Drawing back
from the gate she held herself erect。 Her attitude was that of one
prepared for instant retreat。 When she spoke it was in tones of
extreme disapproval。
〃You promised；〃 said the girl； 〃you would not come to see me。〃
Lathrop； straddling his bicycle； peered anxiously down the road。
〃This is not a social call；〃 he said。 〃I'm on duty。 Have you seen
the Reds？〃
His tone was brisk and alert； his manner preoccupied。 The
ungraciousness of his reception did not seem in the least to
disconcert him。
But Miss Farrar was not deceived。 She knew him； not only as a
persistent and irrepressible lover； but as one full of guile；
adroit in tricks； fertile in expedients。 He was one who could not
take 〃No〃 for an answerat least not from her。 When she repulsed
him she seemed to grow in his eyes only the more attractive。
〃It is not the lover who comes to woo；〃 he was constantly
explaining； 〃but the lover's WAY of wooing。〃
Miss Farrar had assured him she did not like his way。 She objected
to being regarded and treated as a castle that could be taken only
by assault。 Whether she wished time to consider； or whether he and
his proposal were really obnoxious to her； he could not find out。
His policy of campaign was that she； also； should not have time to
find out。 Again and again she had agreed to see him only on the
condition that he would not make love to her。 He had promised
again and again； and had failed to keep that promise。 Only a week
before he had been banished from her presence； to remain an exile
until she gave him permission to see her at her home in New York。
It was not her purpose to return there for two weeks； and yet here
he was； a beggar at her gate。 It might be that he was there； as he
said； 〃on duty；〃 but her knowledge of him and of the doctrine of
chances caused her to doubt it。
〃Mr。 Lathrop！〃 she began； severely。
As though to see to whom she had spoken Lathrop glanced anxiously
over his shoulder。 Apparently pained and surprised to find that it
was to him she had addressed herself； he regarded her with deep
reproach。 His eyes were very beautiful。 It was a fact which had
often caused Miss Farrar extreme annoyance。
He shook his head sadly。
〃'Mr。 Lathrop？'〃 he protested。 〃You know that to you I am always
'CharlesCharles the Bold；' because I am bold to love you； but
never 'Mr。 Lathrop；' unless；〃 he went on briskly； 〃you are
referring to a future state； when； as Mrs。 Lathrop； you will make
me〃
Miss Farrar had turned her back on him； and was walking rapidly up
the path。
〃Beatrice；〃 he called。 〃I am coming after you！〃
Miss Farrar instantly returned and placed both hands firmly upon
the gate。
〃I cannot understand you！〃 she said。 〃Don't you see that when you
act as you do now； I can't even respect you？ How do you think I
could ever care； when you offend me so？ You jest at what you
pretend is the most serious thing in your life。 You play with it
laugh at it！〃
The young man interrupted her sharply。
〃It's like this；〃 he said。 〃When I am with you I am so happy I
can't be serious。 When I am NOT with you； it is SO serious that I
am utterly and completely wretched。 You say my love offends you；
bores you！ I am sorry； but what； in heaven's name； do you think
your NOT loving me is doing to ME？ I am a wreck！ I am a skeleton！
Look at me！〃
He let his bicycle fall； and stood with his hands open at his
sides； as though inviting her to gaze upon the ruin she had caused。
Four days of sun and rain； astride of a bicycle； without food or
sleep； had drawn his face into fine； hard lines； had bronzed it
with a healthy tan。 His uniform； made by the same tailor that
fitted him with polo breeches； clung to him like a jersey。 The
spectacle he presented was that of an extremely picturesque；
handsome； manly youth； and of that fact no one was better aware
than himself。
〃Look at me；〃 he begged； sadly。
Miss Farrar was entirely unimpressed。
〃I am！〃 she returned； coldly。 〃I never saw you looking so well
and you know it。〃 She gave a gasp of comprehension。 〃You came
here because you knew your uniform was becoming！〃
Lathrop regarded himself complacently。
〃Yes； isn't it？〃 he assented。 〃I brought on this war in order to
wear it。 If you don't mind；〃 he added； 〃I think I'll accept your
invitation and come inside。 I've had nothing to eat in four days。〃
Miss Farrar's eyes flashed indignantly。
〃You're NOT coming inside；〃 she declared； 〃but if you'll only
promise to go away at once； I'll bring you everything in the
house。〃
〃In that house；〃 exclaimed Lathrop； dramatically； 〃there's only one
thing that I desire； and I want that so badly that 'life holds no
charm without you。'〃
Miss Farrar regarded him steadily。
〃Do you intend to drive me away from my own door； or will you go？〃
Lathrop picked his wheel out of the dust。
〃Good…by；〃 he said。 〃I'll come back when you have made up your
mind。〃
In vexation Miss Farrar stamped her foot upon the path。
〃I HAVE made up my mind！〃 she protested。
〃Then；〃 returned Lathrop； 〃I'll come back when you have changed
it。〃
He made a movement as though to ride away； but much to Miss
Farrar's dismay； hastily dismounted。 〃On second thoughts；〃 he
said； 〃it isn't right for me to leave you。 The woods are full of
tramps and hangers…on of the army。 You're not safe。 I can watch
this road from here as well as from anywhere else； and at the same
time I can guard you。〃
To the consternation of Miss Farrar he placed his bicycle against
the fence； and； as though preparing for a visit； leaned his elbows
upon it。
〃I do not wish to be rude；〃 said Miss Farrar； 〃but you are annoying
me。 I have spent fifteen summers in Massachusetts； and I have
never seen a tramp。 I need no one to guard me。〃
〃If not you；〃 said Lathrop easily； 〃then the family silver。 And
think of your jewels； and your mother's jewels。 Think of yourself
in a house filled with jewels； and entirely surrounded by hostile
armies！ My duty is to remain with you。〃
Miss Farrar was so long in answering； that Lathrop lifted his head
and turned to look。 He found her frowning and gazing intently into
the shadow of the woods； across the road。 When she felt his eyes
upon her she turned her own guiltily upon him。 Her cheeks were
flushed and her face glowed with some unusual excitement。
〃I wish；〃 she exclaimed breathlessly〃I wish；〃 she repeated； 〃the
Reds would take you prisoner！〃
〃Take me where？〃 asked Lathrop。
〃Take you anywhere！〃 cried Miss Farrar。 〃You should be ashamed to
talk to me when you should be look