a rest, to which she laughingly assented, and they sat down under
an oak by the road.
" Helen," said Jack, " do you know that this is my last term
at Lincoln?"
"Isit ?" she responded, laughing. " Indeed I'm very sorry;
but then you can come back next year if you wish."
Jack did not know what to make of this. He failed to detect
anything serious in .her tone, and yet he did not know, whether
she was teasing him or not.
" Are you really sorry that I am going ?" he asked,
" Certainly; why shouldn't I be?" she replied.
Jack didn't know how to reply to this, and thinking the mock
seriousness in her eyes to be real; he became confused.
Helen enjoyed this hugely. It was a new experience to her,
and she found great delight in keeping this big fellow on pins and
needles.
" I thought you cared," he stammered.
" You thought I cared," she said; " about what ?" Her eyes
were now dancing with merriment, and this time Jack saw that
she was making fun of him.
Now no young fellow likes to be laughed at, especially by the
one girl he likes best, and as Jack was only human he began to
get angry. But the angrier he grew the cooler and more collected
became his tormentor. No matter what he said it was always the
subject of the liveliest banter on her part, until finally he relapsed
into a sullen silence.
This was broken by Helen, who said sweetly, " Mr. Winters,
do you approve of the bloomer costume for lady cyclists ?"
This was the last straw, and Jack found it hard to contain him
self. She was not satisfied with teasing him half to death, as she
had, but she must introduce this subject also. He nevertheless
told her what he thought about it, ending with the declaration
that he would never have anything to do with a girl who wore
bloomers.
" Won't you ?" she replied, and then half defiantly, " well, I
shall order just such a suit for this summer."
Jack was amazed at this cool assertion, but he did not have
much time to think about it for just then the rest of the party
was seen approaching. Jack and Helen were greeted with a
laugh, but as they also joined in it the matter was dropped.
The Free Lance
[ JANUARY ,