fiery red。 Albert's； on the contrary； went perfectly white。 He
seemed to settle back on his heels and from there almost to fly at
his insulter。 Five minutes or so later they were both dusty and
dirty and dishevelled and bruised； but Sam was pretty thoroughly
licked。 For one thing； he had been taken by surprise by his
adversary's quickness； for another； Albert's compulsory training in
athletics at school gave him an advantage。 He was by no means an
unscarred victor； but victor he was。 Sam was defeated； and very
much astonished。 He leaned against the cranberry house and held on
to his nose。 It had been a large nose in the beginning； it was
larger now。
Albert stood before him； his facewhere it was not a pleasing
combination of black and bluestill white。
〃If youif you speak of my father or me again like that；〃 he
panted； 〃I'llI'll kill you！〃
Then he strode off； a bit wobbly on his legs； but with dignity。
Oddly enough； no one except the two most interested ever knew of
this encounter。 Albert； of course； did not tell。 He was rather
ashamed of it。 For the son of Miguel Carlos Speranza to conquer
dragons was a worthy and heroic business； but there seemed to be
mighty little heroism in licking Sam Thatcher behind 'Lije Doane's
cranberry shack。 And Sam did not tell。 Gertie next day confided
that she didn't care two cents for that stuck…up Al Speranza；
anyway； she had let him see her home only because Sam had danced so
many times with Elsie Wixon at the ball that night。 So Sam said
nothing concerning the fight； explaining the condition of his nose
by saying that he had run into something in the dark。 And he did
not appear to hold a grudge against his conqueror； on the contrary
when others spoke of the latter as a 〃sissy；〃 Sam defended him。
〃He may be a dude；〃 said Sam； 〃I don't say he ain't。 But he ain't
no sissy。〃
When pressed to tell why he was so certain； his answer was：
〃Because he don't act like one。〃 It was not a convincing answer；
the general opinion being that that was exactly how Al Speranza did
act。
There was one young person in the village toward whom Albert found
himself making exceptions in his attitude of serenely impersonal
tolerance。 That person was Helen Kendall； the girl who had come
into his grandfather's office the first morning of his stay in
South Harniss。 He was forced to make these exceptions by the young
lady herself。 When he met her the second timewhich was after
church on his first Sundayhis manner was even more loftily
reserved than usual。 He had distinct recollections of their first
conversation。 His own part in it had not been brilliant； and in it
he had made the absurd statementabsurd in the light of what came
afterthat he was certainly NOT employed by Z。 Snow and Co。
So he was cool and superior when his grandmother brought them
together after the meeting was over。 If Helen noticed the
superiority； she was certainly not over…awed by it； for she was so
simple and natural and pleasant that he was obliged to unbend and
be natural too。 In fact； at their third meeting he himself spoke
of the interview in the lumber office and again expressed his
thanks for warning him of his grandfather's detestation of
cigarettes。
〃Gee！〃 he exclaimed； 〃I'm certainly glad that you put me on to the
old boy's feelings。 I think he'd have murdered me if he had come
back and found me puffing a Pall Mall in there。〃
She smiled。 〃He does hate them； doesn't he？〃 she said。
〃Hate them！ I should say he did。 Hating cigarettes is about the
only point where he and Issy get along without an argument。 If a
traveler for a hardware house comes into the office smoking a cig；
Issy opens all the windows to let the smell out； and Grandfather
opens the door to throw the salesman out。 Well； not exactly to
throw him out； of course； but he never buys a single cent's worth
of a cigarette smoker。〃
Helen glanced at him。 〃You must be awfully glad you're not a
traveling salesman；〃 she said demurely。
Albert did not know exactly what to make of that remark。 He； in
his turn； looked at her； but she was grave and quite unconcerned。
〃Why？〃 he asked； after a moment。
〃Whywhat？〃
〃Why ought I to be glad I'm not a traveling salesman？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 It just seemed to me that you ought； that's
all。〃
〃But why？〃
〃Well； if you were you wouldn't make a great hit with your
grandfather； would you？〃
〃Eh？ 。 。 。 Oh； you mean because I smoke。 Say； YOU'RE not silly
enough to be down on cigarettes the way grandfather is； are you？〃
〃No…o； I'm not down on them； especially。 I'm not very well
acquainted with them。〃
〃Neither is he。 He never smoked one in his life。 It's just
country prejudice； that's all。〃
〃Well； I live in the country； too； you know。〃
〃Yes； but you're different。〃
〃How do you know I am？〃
〃Oh； because any one can see you are。〃 The manner in which this
remark was made； a manner implying a wide knowledge of humanity and
a hint of personal interest and discriminating appreciation； had
been found quite effective by the precocious young gentleman
uttering it。 With variations to suit the case and the individual
it had been pleasantly received by several of the Misses Bradshaw's
pupils。 He followed it with another equally tried and trustworthy。
〃Say；〃 he added； 〃would YOU rather I didn't smoke？〃
The obvious reply should have been； 〃Oh； would you stop if I asked
you to？〃 But Helen Kendall was a most disconcerting girl。 Instead
of purring a pleased recognition of the implied flattery； she
laughed merrily。 The Speranza dignity was hurt。
〃What is there to laugh at？〃 he demanded。 〃Are you laughing at
me？〃
The answer was as truthful as truth itself。
〃Why； of course I am；〃 she replied； and then completed his
discomfiture by adding； 〃Why should I care whether you smoke or
not？ You had better ask your grandfather that question； I should
think。〃
Now Alberto Miguel Carlos Speranza had not been accustomed to this
sort of treatment from young persons of the other sex； and he
walked away in a huff。 But the unusual is always attractive； and
the next time he and Miss Kendall met he was as gracious and
cordial as ever。 But it was not long before he learned that the
graciousness was； in her case； a mistake。 Whenever he grew lofty；
she took him down； laughed at him with complete frankness； and
refused to treat him as anything but a boy。 So they gradually grew
friendly； and when they met at parties or church socials he spent
most of the time in her company； or； rather； he would have so spent
it had she permitted。 But she was provokingly impartial and was
quite as likely to refuse a dance with him to sit out one with Sam
Thatcher or Ben Hammond or any other village youth of her
acquaintance。 However； although she piqued and irritated him； he
was obliged to admit to his inner consciousness that she was the
most interesting person he had yet discovered in South Harniss；
also that even in the eyes of such connoisseurs as his fellow
members of the senior class at school she would have been judged a
〃good looker；〃 in spite of her country clothes。
He met her father； of course。 The Reverend Mr。 Kendall was a dreamy
little old gentleman with white hair and the stooped shoulders of a
student。 Everybody liked him； and it was for that reason principally
that he was still the occupant of the Congregational pulpit； for to
quote Captain Zelotes； his sermons were inclined to be like the
sandy road down to Setuckit Point； 〃ten mile long and dry all the
way。〃 He was a widower and his daughter was his companion and
managing housekeeper。 There was a half…grown girl； one of the
numerous Price family； a cousin of Issachar's； who helped out with
the sweeping； dish…washing and cooking； but Helen was the real head
of the household。
〃And she's a capable one； too；〃 declared Mrs。 Snow； when at supper
one evening Helen's name had come into the conversation。 〃I
declare when I was there yesterday to see the minister about
readin' poetry to us at sewin'…circle next Monday that parlor was
as neat as wax。 And 'twas all Helen's work that kept it so； that
was plain enough。 You could see her way of settin' a vase or
puttin' on a table cloth wherever you looked。 Nobody else has just
that way。 And she does it after school or before school or 'most
any odd time。 And whatever 'tis is done right。〃
The housekeeper put in a word。 〃There's no doubt about that；〃 she
said； 〃and there ain't any more doubt that she don't get much help
from her pa or that Maria B。〃 There were so many Prices within the
township limits that individuals were usually distinguished by
their middle initial。 〃As for Mr。 Kendall；〃 went on Rachel； 〃he
moves with his head in the clouds and his feet cruisin' with nobody
at the wheel two…thirds of the time。 Emma Smith says to me
yesterday； says she； 'Mr。 Kendall is a saint on earth； ain't he；'
says she。 'Yes；' says I； 'and he'll be one in heaven any minute if
he goes stumblin' acrost the road in front of Doctor Holliday's
automobile the way I see him yesterday。' The doctor put on the
brakes with a slam and a yell。 The minister stopped right there in
the middle of the road with the front wheels of that auto not
MORE'N two foot from his old baggy trousers' knees； and says he；
'Eh？ Did you want me； Doctor？' The doctor fetched a long breath。
'Why； no； Mr。 Kendall；' he says； 'I didn't； but I come darn nigh
gettin' you。' I don't know what WOULD become of him if he didn't
have Helen to look out for him。〃
As they came to know each other better their conversation dealt
with matters more personal。 They sometimes spoke of plans for the
future。 Albert's plans and ambitions were lofty； but rather vague。
Helen's were practical and definite。 She was to graduate from high
school that spring。 Then she was hoping to teach in the primary
school there in the village； the selectmen had promised her the
opportunity。
〃But； of course；〃 she said； 〃I don't mean to stay here always。
When I can； after I have saved some money and if Father doesn't
need me too badly； I shall go away somewhere； to Bridgewater； or
perhaps to Radcliffe； and study。 I want to