"Yes,—I wrote it," Patty declared, for she could not tell the circumstance of her writing it.
Bill let go her hands, and a vanquished look came into his eyes.
"I—I hoped you didn't," he said, simply; "but as you did, then I know
WHY you did it. Because you didn't want to be on the float with me."
"Oh, no,-NO, Bill!" cried Patty, shocked at this added injustice. "It wasn't THAT,—truly it wasn't!"
Gladness lighted up Bill's face, and his big blue eyes beamed again.
"Wasn't it?" he said. "Wasn't it, Apple Blossom? Then, tell me, why DID you write it?"
"But I don't want to tell you," and Patty pouted one of her very prettiest pouts.
"But you shall tell me! If you don't,"—Bill came a step nearer,—"I'll pick you up and toss you up into the top branches of that biggest pine tree over there!"
"Pooh! Who's afraid?"
Patty's saucy smile was too much for Bill, and, catching her up, he cradled her in his strong arms, and swung her back and forth, as if preparatory to pitching her into the tree.