The Porters were seated at the table just at the close of their noon meal when Eli remarked, "It is exactly a week today since Martha left. It sure seems longer than that, don't it?"

"Yes, it does," Clara agreed.

"It's plenty lonesome around here without her. I was sure that Laura Mae was lonesome without her, too, and that she needs the association of someone near her own age, so I asked Philip Dreyer over for supper tonight," he said with as much composure as if having young folks in to meals was a common occurrence. Clara gasped and Laura Mae looked coldly at her father.

"I would rather choose my own company," she said in dismay.

"Yes, Father, why didn't you consult us before you invited him?" Clara dared venture.

"Since when do I have to get permission to invite a friend to dine at my table?" Eli's piggish eyes were drawn closer together by the frown on his brow.

"Well, my supply of groceries is low just now to be having company." Clara would have done anything to have kept Philip away for she knew how Laura Mae resented his coming.

"Make out your lists! I am driving to the store after dinner and I can bring you what you need for supper." Eli had just come home from the store and Post Office and the woman knew it. He was just as anxious to have Phil come as Clara was to have him stay away. "Philip is only common like we are, you needn't make any extra fuss about the meal. He is such good company to visit with that is why I want him to come," he added. Eli's word had always been law in the little home and he meant for it to continue to be law there. Clara and Laura Mae knew it would be useless to argue with him, he always became so angry and ugly, so during the afternoon, they planned and prepared for Eli's guest, for Laura Mae had decided that she would not treat him as a guest of hers.

At seven o'clock, the group, including Philip, Laura Mae, Clara, and Eli, were seated around the heavy oak table in the Porter's dining room. They were just eating the last of the dessert. If Maria Beckman was a good cook, so was Clara Porter and Laura Mae had proven an apt pupil. Philip had enjoyed every mouthful of the dinner, except for the coarse brown bread. The government had given orders for the people to use as much coarse flour as white. Clara had used her portion of white flour earlier in the week, so with such short notice, she found it necessary to place brown bread on the table. Philip should have been ashamed to so unpatriotic. He could not go serve in the army, and it was hard for him to even make sacrifices at home. All during the meal, he had been noting the charm and beauty of Laura Mar. Eli had been unusually jolly and had kept up an interesting conversation from the time Philip had entered the house.

"Hot weather we have been having again lately," he commented, "It's too hot to stay in the house. I suggest that you young ones go out to the bench on the front porch, it's much cooler out there. Clara and I have a few little odds and ends of chores to finish up, we will join you in a little while." The suggestion pleased Philip and he gave Laura Mae a questioning glance to see how she took the idea. Clara arose from the table but she made no counter-suggestion, she knew her place. Laura Mae could plainly see what was meant for her to do. She thought to herself, "This will give me a chance to let Phil know where he stands with me, so he won't be pestering around here anymore." For a moment, she was glad her father had given her a chance to be alone with Phil. She arose from the table with much dignity and started toward the door that led out onto the porch. Philip followed her, while Eli stood by, grinning his approval. He would show that high spirited young lassie of his, whom she would choose for company!

The green wicker bench stood at the end of the porch where hop vines grew thick. The vines had climbed the wide chicken-netting that had been nailed up at the end and side of the porch, forming a cool shady nook. The sun had been hidden by the mountains for over an hour and darkness was lowering over the beautiful valley. A refreshing breeze was sweeping down from the mountains bringing with it the sweet scent of pine trees. If only the moon would come up it would be an ideal time for lovers to be out. Philip felt the spell of it as he sat on the bench beside the lovely girl, whom he had known since early childhood. It was all as a dream come true for him, how he had wished for the time to come when he could have a chance to prove to her that he was as worthy of her love as Gene Whitmer. His pulse quickened, he could have seized her in his arms and crushed her to him! He slowly put his arm on the back of the bench so that his hand could feel the warmth of her well-formed shoulder. He reached for her hand with his free one, "Laura Mae, you are beautiful," he managed to say.

She shrank from his touch and sat up stiffly, then facing him, she said, "Phil, keep your hands off from me."

"Why, what is the matter, Laura Mae, it isn't like you to be so touchy, is it?"

"I only came out here to have a chance to tell you that it was Father, alone, who invited you here tonight. You need not come again if it is to try to win my favor."

"Your father will ask me to come again. Tonight, while you were in the kitchen before dinner, he said to me, 'Well my boy, you should have a good chance with Laura Mae now,' why would he talk to me like that if he does not mean for me to be encouraged by it and act accordingly?"

"He knows very well that I mean to be true to Gene," she stated briefly.

"Well, we don't need to get sentimental, then, we can just be good friends and knock around to make dreary times pass faster," he pleaded, thinking that if the girl would just go with him, he could win her away from Gene. He was handsome in his trim suit and the wave in his glossy hair was perfect, but he held no charms for Laura Mae.

"As soon as Father comes in, you may go to him to do your visiting, I do not intend to 'Knock around' as you say with any man while Gene is away."

"It's not that, I know. You are ashamed to be seen with me because of my cursed lameness." His face grew pale and he looked far into the distance as if it had been his thoughts that had crept out and had been uttered in the form of words, but Laura Mae heard him.

"Phil Dreyer, it is no such a thing, if I loved you as I loved Gene, lameness or anything else would not make any difference. Gene may come from the war maimed for life," she shuddered at the thought, "But do you think that will change my love for him?"

"You could like me better, Laura Mae, if you would only give me a fair chance to prove myself, don't you think you could?" he intreated earnestly.

"You are all right for a friend, Phil, but you want me to be more to you than just an ordinary friend. You want me to be with you and eventually learn to love you."

"Exactly, dear girl, give me a chance!"

"I can't." Her answer was short and emphatic.

"You can if you will," he pleaded.

"I can't, Phil, you don't understand. I do not intend to tell you or anyone yet, but you will have to forget the idea of wanting me to be more than a friend to you. Gene and I are married."

"You're joking." Philip was sure that there was no truth in what the girl said.

"I am taking it for granted that you will be man enough to not disclose this new to Father and Mother yet. When I'm ready, I will tell them myself. Gene and I were secretly married before he went away."

Philip snarled and caught her hands roughly in his, "So you would resort to lying to try and force me away? I'll not believe a word you have said about being married. You had no chance to have married Gene. You were in Denver until after he enlisted, I know this."

"You think you know, but what I have told you is true, and you are only wasting your time paying attention to me."

"Laura Mae, I have read the newspapers and there has been no account of your marriage. I'll ask Everett Whitmer about it, he knows of Gene's goings and comings."

He thought by saying that he could make her confess that she was only joking.

"gene's uncle knows nothing about our marriage, it was an entire secret. Father is in now, go visit with him or else tell him that you have work to do at home or something. Will you keep my secret?"

"It would not be to my advantage to pass such word around. I would only be helping to rule myself out of the picture when I'm sure you're only joking."

A clatter of dishes could be heard in the kitchen as Clara scraped and piled the plates. Eli came to the front door with a smile playing about his lips. Philipp arose and started toward him, returning a smile.

"Mr. Porter," he said, "I am sorry, but I have quite forgotten when you asked me to dinner, that I have to write a speech tonight to give at the Busy Men's Club. We meet tomorrow night so I will have to excuse myself and go get bust."

"Well, I am sorry, I wish you could stay. How is your club coming along now?" Eli could not help but wonder if Laura Mae was the cause of Philip's early departure.

"We are getting pretty well thinned out now, with so many members in the army and navy. I wish I were there myself."

Eli was sure now that his daughter had been unkind to the boy to make him wish he was in the army, but he did not reveal his thoughts as he answered, "There is no fun in being a soldier, lad, I had a taste of it when the United States and Spain had their squabble over Cuba. There is no great loss without some small gain, you can be glad you were exempt."

Clara came and stood by her husband's side. Philip turned to her. "I want to thank you for the dinner, it was very nice," he said, smiling a two-faced smile, for he was sorry he had ever come over for the meal. "Now, if I may have my hat. I will have to bid you goodnight." Clara brought his hat and gloves to him.

"Good night, Laura Mae," he said and tipped his hat as he went down the steps from the porch.

"Good night," the girl answered with an indifferent attitude.

"Come again," Eli called to him.

"Thanks, I will," theyoung man answered and was gone