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Keith's chin was still high and his gaze still straight ahead when he reached the foot ofHarrington Hill. Perhaps that explained why he did not see the two young misses on thefence by the side of the road until a derisively gleeful shout called his attention to theirpresence."Well, Keith Burton, I should like to know if you're blind " challenged a merry voice.The boy turned with a start so violent that the girls giggled again gleefully. "Dear, dear, didwe scare him? We're so sorry "The boy flushed painfully. Keith did not like girls-that is, he SAID he did not like them.They made him conscious of his hands and feet, and stiffened his tongue so that it wouldnot obey his will. The prettier the girls were, the more acute was his discomfiture.Particularly, therefore, did he dislike these two girls-they were the prettiest of the lot.They were Mazie Sanborn and her friend Dorothy Parkman.Mazie was the daughter of the town's richest manufacturer, and Dorothy was her cousinfrom Chicago, who made such long visits to her Eastern relatives that it seemed sometimesalmost as if she were as much of a Hinsdale girl as was Mazie herself.To-day Mazie's blue eyes and Dorothy's brown ones were full of mischief."Well, why don't you say something? Why don't you apologize?" demandedMazie.'"Pol-pologize? What for?" In his embarrassed misery Keith resorted to bravado in voiceand manner."Why, for passing us by in that impertinent fashion," returned Mazie loftily. "Do you thinkthat is the way ladies should be treated?" (Mazie was thirteen and Dorothy fourteen.) "Theidea