r were a mystery of
mysteries.

The morrow was to bear Alice Ferris away to her home by the lakes,
and some subtle influence seemed to have transformed the golden-haired
girl into a stern, stately Niobe.

All the journals from Cheyenne to the Pacific were now teeming
with fulsome praise of the man whose firm hand had guided so many
enterprises past all the financial shoals and quicksands of our
sweeping tide of speculation.

The whole of America now knew how the deceased millionaire had left
Tacoma in the ruddy glow of health, his luxurious car attached to
the eastward train.

There had been but a hurried parting between Hugh Worthington and
his idolized daughter. Alice well knew the light of Victory shining
out upon the old man's rugged face, as he received the brief telegrams
of Ferris from Philadelphia informing him of the sweeping triumph
in the election which had thrown the final destines of the Western
Trading Company unreservedly into his hands.

There was a cloud, however, chilling the hearts of father
and daughter, when Hugh briefly announced that he was going on to
Cheyenne to meet Randall Clayton. "You will forgive him; you will
bring him on to us; he will remain here when my real church wedding
and all our reunion of friends introduces me as a bride. For I am
only pledged by the law now."

Then the old man's face hardened. "I have to use diplomacy with
him," he briefly answered. "He has stubbornly refused to obey my
orders. He might ruin my newly modelled company as an open enemy.
And I have invited him West only to save trouble between Arthur and
him. You know what a future you will have as the wife of Senator
Dunham's only nephew. I have tried to gain wealth for you. Arthur
Ferris may Himself reach the Senate. I had to choose for you. I
chose well. Randall might have been the son of my old age, but"--

Then Alice Ferris, with flashing eyes, faced her father. The virginal
heart of the girl was roused with a nameless terror. "And so you
have made me Arthur Ferris' wife to chain the Senator to you for
life! You told me that Randall Clayton led a vile life. Who told
you?"

The Little Sister's heart was aflame. All her soul went out in
a flood of faith in the absent man's honor. "You have been at my
side, near me, father. Some one has worked upon you. I will make
Arthur tell me all."

It was only after a positive refusal to take Alice on to Cheyenne
that the old capitalist left the lonely heir