REDDY ARMSTRONG'S REFORMATION
"Maybe."
"Would you, Betty? Quick."
"No, Reddy."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because what?"
"Because—well—I know you would be sure to come round all right some time, because you are Reddy, and I love you and I pray—oh, so hard for you! I'm not crying."
"Oh, Betty," said the boy.
"Kiss me."
"No," said Reddy; "not even the hands." He knelt down in the muddy road.
"You're a sillier Reddy than ever. Get up. Now, Reddy, good-by. You must go." But she reined up again.
She poked her nose down close to his blue eyes, and shut her teeth close together, and spoke rapidly. "Do you want to know how I could tell you were bad? The way you looked at me all Freshman year. That's the reason I cried, and you called me a silly little thing. Want to know why I could not send you away even if you were still bad? 'Cause
136
