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Unkind as the Fates had proved to Brant earlier in the day, they

relented soher, and consented to lead him to

far happier scenes There is a rare fortune which seeht, even when they are

soldier was now h the mists of doubt

and despair

It was no claim of military duty which compelled him to relinquish Miss

Spencer so promptly at the hotel door, but rather a desire to escape

her ceaseless chatter and gain retirement where he could reflect in

quiet over the revelations of Hampton In this quest he rode slowly up

the valley of the Bear Water, through the bright sunshine, the rare

beauty of the scene scarcely leaving the slightest impress on his er had any doubt that

Haeous position, as well as his

re, to ensnare the susceptible heart of this

young, confiding girl While the h to make perfectly clear the close intimacy of their

relation and the existence of a definite understanding between thenized as a fact, was he justified in endeavoring to win