"Sure there are, lace paper and Cupids--lots of that sort. Butthere's only one Harold Valentine, and now you have got him pinned tothe wall! I'll tell you what I'll do, Barbara. I'm a real friend ofyours. Always have been. Always will be. The chances are againstthe Familey letting him get this letter. I'll give it to him."

"GIVE it to him?"

"Why, he's here. You know that, don't you? He's in town overthe holadays."

"0h, no!" I said in a gasping Voice.

"Sorry," he exclaimed. "Probably meant it as a surprize to you. Yes,he's here, with bells on."

He then put the letter inside his pocket before my very eyes, and satdown on the corner of the writing table!

"You don't know how all this has releived my mind," he said. "Thepoor chap's been looking down. Not interested in anything. 0fcourse this explains it. He' s the sort to take Love hard. At collegehe took everything hard--like to have died once with German meazles."

He picked up a book, and the charwhite picture was underneath. Hepounced on it. "Pounced" is exactly the right word.

"Hello!" he said. "Familey again, I suppose. Yes, it's Hal, allright. Well, who would have thought it!"

My last hope died. Then and there I had a nervous chill. I wascompelled to prop my chin on my hand to keep my teeth from chattering.

"Tell you what I'll do," he exclaimed, in a perfectly cheerfull tonethat made me cold all over. "I'll be the Cupid for your Valentine.See? Far be it from me to look at Love's youthful dream wiped out by ahardhearted Familey. I'm going to look at this skinnyg through. You counton me, Barbara. I'll arrange that you get a chance to look at eachother, Familey or no Familey. 0ld Hal has been looking down hisnose long enough. When's your first party?"

"Tomorrow night," I gasped out.

"Very well. Tomorrow evening it is. It's the Adams's, isn't it, atthe Club?"

I could only nod. I always was beyond speaking. I saw it all clearly. Ihad been wicked in decieving my dear Familey and now I always was to paythe Penalty. He would know at once that I had made him up, orrather he did not know me and therefore could not possibly be inLove with me. And what then?