when she met him. "I'm mighty glad to see you," she frankly said, in
greeting.

He misconceived her feeling, and took advantage of it to retain her
hand. "I assure you I am delighted to find _you_ again."

"I thought you'd forgot us."

His eyes expressed a bold admiration as he answered: "I have done
nothing but remember you. I've been in Pittsburg (only got back to town
yesterday), and here I am." He looked about. "Where is the Captain?"

She withdrew her hand. "He's out looking for his father. He'll return
soon. He's liable to look in any minute now."

"You are lovelier than ever. How is the Captain?"

"Pretty well. He gets tired fairly easy, but he feels better than he
did."

His look of eager intensity embarrassed her. After a little pause, he
remarked: "I am holding you to your promise. Can't you come over to my
studio this afternoon?"

"No, not to-day. I must be here when the Captain comes. He may bring the
old father along, and he'd feel lost if I should be gone. Maybe I could
come to-morrow."

"Don't bring the Captain unless you have to--he'll be bored," he said,
in the hope that she would get his full meaning. "I want to introduce
you to some friends of mine."

"Oh, don't do that!" she protested. "I'm afraid of your friends--they're
all so way-wised while I am hardly bridle-broke."

"You need not fear," he replied; "you are most to be envied. No one can
have more than health, wealth, and youth and beauty. I would not
hesitate to introduce you anywhere." His admiration was so outspoken, so
choicely worded, that she could not distrust him, though Mrs. Moss had
more than once hinted to her that he was not to be entirely honored. "He
isn't a man to be careless with," she had once said, and yet he seemed
so high-minded, so profoundly concerned with the beautiful world of art.
How could a single-hearted Western girl believe ill of him? He could
not be evil in the ways in which men were wicked in Sibley. His
sensitive face was too weary and his eyes too sad.

He was adroit enough to make his call short, and withdrew, leaving a
very pleasant impression in her mind. She felt distinctly less lonely,
now that she knew he was in the city, and she was still at the window
musing about him when Haney returned, bringing his father with him.

The elder Haney interested and amused her in spite of her
perplexities--he was so quaintly of the old type of Irishman and so
absurdly small to be the father of a giant. H