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FLAMING

YOUTH

upen Him. Andesuddenty in that light her exeulpatery arguments seemed shallow and paltering. This uncom | fortable consideration she thrust determinedly into the | background, and concentrated her thought upon her next

meeting with Scott.

All things considered, she was not, on the whole, sorry

that he had gone away, assuming, of course, that he came. back very seen. Ft gave her time te think, to figure

things out free from the immediate glamour of his pres — ence and the disturbing gladness of his return after the © long disseverance. Did she really love him? She sapposed she must; otherwise —— Yet there was still strong: within her the impulse toward the companionship af youth which had inspired her petulant remonstrance to Dr, Bobs aver his opinion as to the desirable age for her hushand: “J don’t want to marry my grandfather!’ Would she

marry Cary Scott if he were free? Even now she doubted it, Not at ence, anyway. She wanted her own freedom for a time yet, freedom te enjoy life, to range, to pick and choese. But she had made her choice.

Traditien |

would hold that she had taken an irrevocable step, committed herself. Tradition be damned! She didn’t be Gere it. Would Cary take that view? Ti, on his retura, he should assume the proprietary attitude, evince a sense of possessiveness—Pat clenched her fists but at ance softened with the recollection of his sure comprehension, his unerring tact, his instinctive sense af her deeper enatians and reactions. Se far as the immediate future went, he was not free

te marry her, nor likely te be. That problem need not be faced now. Suppose later she fell in love and wanted te marry someone else; what would be her course then? Qh, well! Let that take care of itself when it came Meantime she had something more immediate to look forward te.