The proud and happy girl answered gratefully:
"But for your persuasions I should never have ventured to send in my picture for the contest. I want to testify my gratitude by giving each of you five dollars to buy a pretty keepsake."
They protested they would not take a penny of her little fortune, but the generous girl would not be denied.
"I have seventy-five dollars left! I am rich yet!" she cried gayly, for Liane was the happiest girl in the world to-day.
But it was neither her signal triumph nor the money that made her happy, it was because she had seen Jesse Devereaux again, and his radiant, dark eyes had told her the story of his love as plain as words.
Though she was grateful to the handsome artist for his attentions, she was disappointed because he had kept Jesse from walking home with her last night.
But she looked eagerly for some demonstration from him to-day. Perhaps he would send her some more flowers, for he had whispered gladly as they parted:
"Thank you for wearing the roses I sent you!"
Liane's heart leaped with joy at hearing the flowers had come from Jesse, and she placed them carefully away that night, determined to keep them always, for his dear sake.
How her heart sank when Dolly Dorr, who had been rather quiet and sulky that morning, suddenly remarked: