"As I have said, Mr. Underwood, in the hurry and excitement of the last

week or so before my going away I was forced to neglect some business

matters; but if I will straighten everything into satisfactory shape and

repay that small loan, as I still regard it, I hope then that our former

pleasant relations will be resumed, and that no little misapprehension

of this sort will make any difference between us."

"Walcott," said Mr. Underwood, rising on his crutches and preparing to

leave the room, "I had absolute confidence in you; I trusted you

implicitly. Your own conduct has shaken that confidence, and it may be

some time before it is wholly restored. We will continue business as

before; but remember, you are on probation, sir--on probation!"

When Kate Underwood received her father's letter, instead of prolonging

her visit she at once prepared to return home. She understood that the

barrier between her father and herself had been swept away, and nothing

could then hold her back from him.

Two days later, as Mr. Underwood was seated by the fire on his return

from the office, there came a ring at the door which he took to be the

postman's. Mrs. Dean answered the door.

"Any letter from Kate?" he asked, as his sister returned.

"Yes, there's a pretty good-sized one," she replied, with a broad smile,

adding, as he glanced in surprise at her empty hands, "I didn't bring

it; 'twas too heavy!"

The next instant two arms were thrown about his neck, a slender figure

was kneeling beside him, and a fair young face was pressed close to his,

while words of endearment were murmured in his ear.

Without a word he clasped her to his breast, holding her for a few

moments as though he feared to let her go. Then, relaxing his hold, he

playfully pinched her cheeks and stroked the brown hair, calling her by

the familiar name "Puss," while his face lighted with the old genial

smile for the first time since his illness. Each scanned the other's

face, striving to gauge the other's feelings, but each read only that

the old relations were re-established between them, and each was

satisfied.

Within a day or so of her return Kate despatched a messenger to Walcott

with the ring, accompanied by a brief note to the effect that everything

between them was at an end, but that it was useless for him to seek an

explanation, as she would give none whatever.

He at once took the note to his senior partner.

"I understood, Mr. Underwood, that everything was amicably adjusted

between us; I did not suppose that you had carried your suspicions

against me to any such length as this!"

Mr. Underwood read the note. "I know nothing whatever regarding my

daughter's reasons for her decision, and have had nothing whatever to do

with it. I knew that she had formed that decision at the last moment

before the wedding ceremony was to be performed, before she was even

aware of its postponement. She seemed to think she had sufficient

reasons, but what those reasons were I have never asked and do not

know."




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