Her companion gave a laughing exclamation."There,you see.I've known for only one year.What is your name?""Jewel Evringham."
"Good-bye,Jewel,till we meet again,some Sunday soon,I hope."They shook hands,and Mr.Reeves went smiling on his way.
"Seven years,"he reflected."There's the simon pure article.She can't be over nine.I'll wager Bel-Air Park has had its sensations of late.Evringham!The high ball,the billiard ball,and the race track,and now the reputation of being a difficult old martinet.Never unkind to anything!Why,she's a little feminine Siegfried,that precious Jewel.Ballard and the cousin,eh?I've heard that rumor."When Dr.Ballard returned to the buggy,Jewel began loquaciously telling him of her pleasant experience.
"And he knows you,Mr.Reeves does,and he said you were a nice fellow,"she finished,beaming.
"Very civil of him,I'm sure,"returned the doctor as the horse started."I distinctly remember his having a different opinion one night when he caught me in his favorite cherry tree;but I don't yet understand the levity of his behavior in scraping acquaintance with the young lady I left unprotected in my buggy.""Oh,we'd met before in a trolley car,"explained Jewel."I wanted to run right to him when I first saw that he was a Scientist.""A what?Mr.Reeves?Oh,go 'way,my little mascot.Go 'way!""Yes,he had on the pin--this one,you know."Jewel touched the small gold symbol,and Dr.Ballard examined it curiously."So we smiled at each other,and to-day he's told me where I can come to church,and I'm nearly sure cousin Eloise will go with me."Dr.Ballard's eyes grew serious as he turned Hector's head toward the park."I can scarcely believe it of Mr.Reeves,"he said.
"He says you are too nice to bow down to false gods,"added Jewel shyly.
"If mine are false to you,yours are false to me,"said the young man kindly."You can understand that,can't you,Jewel?""Yes,I can."
"And we should never quarrel over it,should we?"he went on.