LITERACY His Third Time Back Bill Norkey wore a contented grin. This meant an unusual degree of satisfaction, the like of which he knew only at extended inter-vals-only during the spring. A good piece of news enabled his fancy to turn where other young men's fancies are supposed to turn in the season when Easter bonnets, buttercups and the call of the wild all come into their own. For the third time (it was now an annual event) Norkey's faithful friend Jordan informed him that a rival had passed into solitude that is, so far as the company of Helen was concerned. Bill was one who disregarded tradition; for tradition, in this case, meant that the joys of spring would depart with the falling Autumn leaves, as had heretofore been the case. Whatever tradition said, young Norkey knew that the affections of Helen had again returned like the migratory birds. Yes, Norkey knew; and immediately a never-see-one-without-the-other-ness proclaimed his yearly conquest to the world in which he moved and dreamed. Bill could hardly be blamed. Helen Davis was a dainty miss, with eyes that allured the men so easily and artfully that none even knew that her eyes did allure; and she had an amiable disposition that radiated an atmosphere of idealism, potent enough to be felt by all her associates. But Helen did not know what wealth she possessed. Norkey was sometimes taken as a matter of fact, and sometimes as a matter of sentiment. The affection of Helen, although surely returned, was like the price of potatoes. She knew, however, that she liked Bill, but the extent depended upon her mood, or something equally hard to decipher. One morning, as Helen walked to her work at the store, she passed under the admiring gaze of Lee Benton. That youth was temporarily a millionaire of joy; and as he polished the shop windows ACORN 4 could see in their shining surfaces the delightful form of the late passer-by. The early hour informed Benton that she had gone to her work; and it was futile, thought he, to look for her return until noon or thereabout. At 11 :51, precisely, Helen passed. Fee Benton again felt the thirll of inspirational satisfaction that had carried him through his morning labors, and with his vision renewed he resolved on determining the hour that her afternoon's work was done. That evening, as Benton was leaving the shop, the object of his desire passed, in company with Bill Norkey, whom Benton did not know. Each day thereafter Helen unconsciously inspired Lee Benton with added energy for the morning, and for the afternoon. But in the evening, a never-see-one-without-the-other-ness proclaimed Norkey's yearly conquest to the world in which he moved and dreamed and to Lee Benton. In Delia, with whom Lee spent many of his evenings, he had a next best. He soon found, by a diplomacy that concealed its motive, that Delia was an acquaintance of Helen. So the customary treat, which he received every morning" and noon, was more carefully guarded. But Benton, with Delia as his reality, dreamed ever of Helen. Meanwhile, Norkey's affair ran smoothly more smoothly, perhaps, than the course of true love. Tradition, however, remembered the Autumn leaves, and foretold his doom; for history repeats itself. Now the Emersonian sparks of love, kindled in the bosom of youth, light their fires in another's heart; Father Time does his work; and the shafts of faithful Cupid are never-failing. One day a diamond ring, sparkling on the finger of Delia, announced a tender triumph. And Lee Benton, as he polished the shop windows, showed all the outward signs of seeing pleasurable visions in their shining surface. That night Helen requested Lee to call on her. Delia had introduced them a few weeks before. Lee went. "I don't suppose you know how it is I mean well, maybe you do, too but I just had to see someone. I thought you might feel that way too." Benton listened with a genuine interest, like an ardent disciple of that German psychologist, Freud, relieving a fellow creature of a burdensome memory. "You know," Helen went on, "I had decided to keep Bill this time I guess my game's been played on me. Never thought he'd be engaged to Delia. I thought I cared, but I suppose I didn't. And now, Lee, if you" And as she turned her thoughts Lee-ward, he remembered his dreams that were. ANNA LUMNUS.