"Guess."
Betty ran through a list of most of her acquaintances, but after each name her brother shook his head.
"Oh, well, I don't care," she finally said. The color in her cheeks had heightened noticeably.
"Very well. If you do not care, I will say nothing more," said Col.
Zane.
At this juncture Annie called them to supper. Later, when Col. Zane sat on the doorstep smoking, Betty came and sat beside him with her head resting against his shoulder. The Colonel smoked on in silence. Presently the dusky head moved restlessly.
"Eb, tell me the message," whispered Betty.
"Message? What message?" asked Col. Zone. "What are you talking about?"
"Do not tease—not now. Tell me." There was an undercurrent of wistfulness in Betty's voice which touched the kindhearted brother.
"Well, to-day a certain young man asked me if he could relieve me of the responsibility of looking after a certain young lady."
"Oh——"