"Good night, children," said the absent-minded old man The two gurgled out some sounds which were intended for words and doged behind the bedroom door

"They've put us to bed ! " Abner's black eyes flashed fire His nervous hands clutched collar Ross had lent him "That's what I get for coming here , Ross Pryor ! " And tears of humiliation stood eyes

turn Ross showed no resentment "What I'm worried about is my mother," he confessed "She's so sharp about finding out things She wouldn't tease me--she'd just be sorry But she'll think I went home "

"I'd like my mother make fuss calling girls ! " growled Abner, glad to let his rage take safe direction

"Calling girls ! Have we called on any girls ? " demanded clear-headed, honest Ross

"Not exactly--yet," admitted Abner, reluctantly "Come on--let's go to bed Mr Claiborne asked us, and he's the head household It isn't anybody's business what we came for "

"I'll slip off my shoes and lie down till Babe ties up the dog morning," said Ross "Then get away before any family is up "

Oh, youth--youth--youth, with its rash promises ! Worn out with misery the boys slept heavily The first sound that either heard morning was Babe hammering upon their bedroom door They crouched guiltily and looked into 's eyes "Let pretend we ain't here and he'll go away," breathed Abner

But Babe of sterner stuff He rattled the knob He turned it He put in black face with grin which divided it from ear to ear "Cady say I mus' call dem fool boys to breakfus'," he announced "I never named you-all dat Cady, she say dat "

"Breakfast ! " echoed Ross, in daze

"Yessuh, breakfus'," reasserted Babe, coming entirely room and looking curiously about him "Ain't you-all done been to bed at all ? " wrapping his arms about his shoulders and shaking with silent ecstasies of mirth The boys threw themselves upon him and ejected him

"Sent up servant us to breakfast," snarled Abner " 'd only sent their old servant door first place, all this wouldn't 'a' happened I'm just that way when I get thrown off the track how when I tried to repeat those things --I had clear back beginning when I got interrupted "

"Does that mean that you're still hanging around here over and make call ? " asked Ross, darkly "I won't go down to breakfast "

Abner brightened little as Ross becoming wordy rage "I dare you to walk downstairs and say, 'We-just-dropped-in-to-call-on-Miss-Champe' ! "

"I--oh--I--darn it all ! there goes the second bell trot down "

"Don't leave me, Ross," pleaded the Jilton boy " 't stay here--and 't go down "

The tone was hysterical The boy with freckles took his companion arm without another word and marched him down the stairs " get chance yet on Champe all by herself out porch or arbor before she goes to school," he suggested, by way of putting some spine black-eyed boy

An emphatic bell rang were half-way down the stairs Clutching their hats, they slunk dining-room Even Mr Claiborne seemed to notice something unusual in their bearing settled chairs assigned , and asked them kindly had slept well

plain that Aunt Missouri posting him her understanding intentions young men The state of affairs gave an electric hilarity atmosphere Babe travelled sideboard table, trembling like chocolate pudding Cady insisted on bringing cakes herself, and grinned as she whisked her starched blue skirts in and dining-room dimple even showed itself corners of pretty Alicia's prim little mouth Champe giggled, till Ross heard Cady whisper:

"Now you got one dem snickerin' spells agin You gwine bust yo' dress buttons off back ef you don't mind "

spirits mounted, the hearts two youths sank-- like this Claibornes, what would it be at school and at large when their failure to connect intention with result became village talk ? Ross bit fiercely upon an unoffending batter-cake, and resolved call single-handed before he left the house

They went dining-room, their hats as ever pressed breasts With no volition own, their uncertain young legs carried them porch The Claiborne family and household followed like small boys after circus procession two turned, at bay, yet with nothing and liberty but hypnotism own suggestion, they saw the black faces servants peering over the family shoulders

Ross boy drawn courage desperation case, and made some decent glorious ending But psychological moment there came around the corner house that most contemptible figure known Southern plantation, shirt-boy--a creature described, benefit not informed, as pickaninny clad only in long, coarse cotton shirt While all eyes were fastened upon him this inglorious ambassador bolted forth his message:

"Yo' ma say"--his eyes were fixed upon Abner--"ef yo' don' come home, she gwine come after yo'--an' cut yo' into inch pieces wid rawhide when she git yo' Dat jest what Miss Hortense say "

such book as Hints and Helps had never existed, Abner shot gate-- but hobbledehoy fascinated idea of playing gentleman But in Ross there were the makings of man For few half-hearted paces, under the first impulse of horror, he followed his deserting chief, the laughter family, the unrestrainable guffaws negroes, sounding rear But when Champe's high, offensive giggle, topping all the others, insulted his ears, he stopped dead, wheeled, and ran porch faster than he had fled White as paper, shaking with inexpressible rage, he caught and kissed the tittering girl, violently, noisily, before them all

The negroes fled--they dared not trust their feelings; even Alicia sniggered unobtrusively; Grandfather Claiborne chuckled, and Aunt Missouri frankly collapsed into her rocking-chair, bubbling with mirth, crying out:

"Good , Ross ! Seems know how girls, after all "

But Ross, paying no attention, walked swiftly toward the gate He had served his novitiate never be afraid again With cheerful alacrity he dodged the stones flung after him with friendly, erratic aim girl upon whom, yesterday afternoon, he had come social call