"I hardly know yet just what I do think of him," he answered, slowly; "I

have not formed a definite opinion of him, but I think, as your daughter

says, he somehow seems the last man whom I would have expected you to

associate yourself with."

Mr. Underwood frowned. "I don't generally make mistakes in people," he

said, rather gruffly; "if I'm mistaken in this man, it will be the first

time."

Nothing further was said on the subject, though it remained uppermost in

the minds of both, with the result that their conversation was rather

spasmodic and desultory. At the dinner-table, Kate was quick to observe

the unusual silence, and, intuitively connecting it in some way with the

new partnership, refrained alike from question or comment regarding

either that subject or Mr. Walcott, while it was a rule with Mrs. Dean

never to refer to her brother's business affairs unless he first alluded

to them himself.

The evening passed more pleasantly, as Kate coaxed her father into

telling some reminiscences of his early western life, which greatly

interested Darrell. Something of the old restlessness had returned to

him, however. He spent a wakeful night, and was glad when morning came

and he could return to his work.

As he came out of the house at an early hour to set forth on his long

ride he found Kate engaged in feeding Trix with lumps of sugar. She

greeted him merrily, and as he started down the avenue he was followed

by a rippling laugh and a shower of roses, one of which he caught and

fastened in his buttonhole, but on looking back over his shoulder she

had vanished, and only Duke was visible.




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