Kate was quick to observe the change in Walcott's manner and to note the

malignity lurking in the half-closed eyes whenever they encountered her

own or her father's gaze, and, while saying nothing to excite or worry

the latter, redoubled her vigilance, seldom leaving him alone.

Affairs had reached this state when, with the early spring days, Mr.

Britton returned from the East and stopped for a brief visit at The

Pines. In a few days he divined enough of the situation to lead him to

suspect that danger of some kind threatened his old friend. A hint from

Kate confirmed his suspicion, and he resolved to prolong his stay and

await developments.

One afternoon soon after his arrival Kate, returning from a walk, while

passing up the driveway met a woman coming from The Pines. The latter

was tall, dressed in black, and closely veiled,--a stranger,--yet

something in her appearance seemed familiar. Suddenly Kate recalled the

"Señora" who sent the summons to Walcott on that day set for their

marriage, more than a year before. Though she had caught only a brief

glimpse of the black-robed and veiled figure within the carriage, she

remembered a peculiarly graceful poise of the head as she had leaned

forward for a final word with Walcott, and by that she identified the

woman now approaching her. Each regarded the other closely as they met.

To Kate it seemed as though the woman hesitated for the fraction of a

second, as though about to speak, but she passed on silently. On

reaching a turn in the driveway Kate, looking back, saw the woman

standing near the large gates watching her, but the latter, finding

herself observed, passed through the gates to the street and walked

away.

Perplexed and somewhat annoyed, Kate proceeded on her way to the house.

She believed the woman to be in some way associated with Walcott, and

that her presence there presaged evil of some sort. As she entered the

sitting-room her aunt looked up with a smile from her seat before the

fire.

"You have just had rather a remarkable caller, Katherine."

"That woman in black whom I just met?" Kate asked, betraying no

surprise, for she felt none; she was prepared at that moment for almost

any announcement.

"Who was she, Aunt Marcia? and what did she want with me?"

"She refused to give her name, but said to tell you 'a friend' called.

She seemed disappointed at not seeing you, and as she was leaving she

said, 'Say to her she has a friend where she least thinks it, and if

she, or any one she loves, is in danger, I will come and warn her.' She

was very quiet-appearing, notwithstanding her tragic language. You say

you met her; what do you think of her?"




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