All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

ALL LN A GARDEN FAIR. 265
III the course of tlie day, however, he took
lieart, tliinking that he was a Partner and tliey
were only clerks ; also, that Allen might be
a good-looking fellow enough, but he was
lanky and wore glasses, and that Will was
certainly too big a fellow to take any girl's
fancy.
Claire received the letters when she came
liome from the school. She read them, and her
lieart began to beat and her lips to tremble.
Because she felt, somehow, as if she loved two
of them in exactly the same w'ay. As for the
third, she neither blushed nor trembled when
she read his letter. iSlie put it down gently,
however, and smiled.
When her father came in from the garden,
she gave him the letters without a word.
' Does my daughter wisli to leave her father
yet ? ' he said.
She laid her arms about his neck and kissed
him, with a tender love in her eyes.
asked.
' Wliat answer shall I give, my dear?' he