to the hallway; took the card basket from the
table, returned and seated herself beside her father, emptying its
contents into her lap. She picked up a card. It read "Angelo Diotti,"
and she called the name aloud. She took up another and again her lips
voiced the beloved name. "Angelo Diotti," she continued, repeating at
intervals for a minute. Then looking at her father: "He has called
thirty-two times: there are thirty-one cards here and on one occasion
he forgot his card-case."

"Thirty-two!" said the father, rising angrily and pacing the floor.

"Yes, thirty-two. I remember all of them distinctly."

Her father came over to her, half coaxingly, half seriously. "Mildred,
I wish his visits to cease; people will imagine there is a romantic
attachment between you."

"There is, father," out it came, "he loves me and I love him."

[Illustration: Father I will obey you implicitly]

"What!" shouted Mr. Wallace, and then severely, "this must cease
immediately."

She rose quietly and led her father over to the mantel. Placing a hand
on each of his shoulders she said:

"Father, I will obey you implicitly if you can name a reasonable
objection to the man I love. But you can not. I love him with my whole
soul. I love him for the nobility of his character, and because there
is none other in the world for him, nor for me."

IX

Old Sanders as boy and man had been in the employ of the banking and
brokerage firm of Wallace Brothers for two generations. The firm
gradually had advanced his position until now he was confidential
adviser and general manager, besides having an interest in the profits
of the business.

He enjoyed the friendship of Mr. Wallace, and had been a constant
visitor at his house from the first days of that gentleman's married
life. He himself was alone in the world, a confirmed bachelor. He had
seen Mildred creep from babyhood into childhood, and bud from girlhood
to womanhood. To Mildred he was one of that numerous army of brevet
relations known as "gran-pop," "pop," or "uncle." To her he was Uncle
Sanders.

If the old man had one touch of human nature in him it was a
solicitude for Mildred's future--an authority arrogated to himself--to
see that she married the right man; but even that was directed to her
material gain in this world's goods, and not to any sentimental
consideration for her happiness. He flattered himself that by timely
suggestion he had "stumped" at least half a dozen wou