Besides, I'm pretty well off. I go where I please, stay out as late as I
please and have all the company I want. At home I'd have to be in bed at
ten o'clock."
There was a sound at the front door down in the darkness. The girl started
from the chair, listened, then exclaimed: "There she comes now. And it's
two o'clock!"
Howard took the hint, smiled and said: "Well, good-night. I'll see you
again."
"Good-night," the girl answered absently.
From his room Howard heard Nellie coming up the stairs. "You're a nice
one!" came in "Miss Black-Hair's" indignant voice, "Where have you been?
Where did you and Jack go?"
The answer came in a sob--"Oh, Alice, you'll never forgive me!"
Their door closed upon the two girls but Howard could still hear Nellie's
voice tearful, pleading. There was the sound of some one falling heavily
upon the lounge, then sobs and cries of "Oh! Oh!" As Howard went into his
bedroom, he could hear the voices still more plainly through the thin wall.
He caught the words only once. "Miss Black-Hair," her voice shaking with
anger, exclaimed: "Nellie Baker, you are a wicked girl, I shall go away."
V.
ALICE.
Several nights later Howard came upon Alice at the front door, where a
young man was detaining her in a lingering good-bye.
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