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Dinner was over To under the apple trees in the orchard, where Webb had placed a cider-press of a new design which was to be tried the next day Mrs Drake had retired to her roohborhood, and Dolly was in the parlor reading the books Saunders had given her Mostyn hesitated about joining her, but the tereat to be withstood She looked up from her book as he entered and smiled impulsively, then the smile died away and she fixed him with a steady stare of inquiry

"Why, what has happened?" she faltered

"Nothing particular," he said, as he took a seat near her and clasped his cold, nervous hands over his knee

She shook her head slowly, her eyes still on hihed "I can see it all over you At dinner I watched you You look--look as you did the day you ca back Oh, I think I know!" she sighed again, and her pretty ht you bad news of business"

He saw a loophole of escape fro situation, and in desperation he used it "Things are always going crooked in a bank like ours," he said, avoiding her despondent stare "Men in s run smoothly at times, and then --then they may not do so well"

"Oh, I' on beautifully You--you seemed perfectly happy, too, and I hoped that--" Her voice trailed away in the still roo rise and fall suddenly

"Don't let it worry you," he said

"How can I help it?" She put the books on the -sill and raised her hand to her brow "I kno to fight , too intricate, too far away What--what are you going to do?"

He felt the need of further pretense He looked down as he answered: "I shall have to take the first train in the , and--and--"

"Oh!" The simple ejaculation was so full of pain that it checked his tardy subterfuge He rose to take her in his are hiainst the -fra forces No, he would not touch her, he told himself; she was to be his wife--she was the sweetest, purest human flower that ever bloorime of his past he would not insult her by further intie, and he would not do so till he had a better right