ments of style, dress, manners and
feature. Yet there was a decidedly unconventional quality about him: he
was totally unlike any thing or anybody that she could remember; and,
as the attributes of originality are often as apt to alarm as to attract
people, she was not entirely prepossessed in his favor.

"I can hardly hope," he began pleasantly, "that you remember me. It is
eleven years ago, and you were a very little girl. I am afraid I cannot
even claim to have enjoyed that familiarity that might exist between a
child of six and a young man of twenty-one. I don't think I was fond
of children. But I knew your mother very well. I was editor of 'The
Avalanche' in Fiddletown, when she took you to San Francisco."

"You mean my stepmother: she wasn't my mother, you know," interposed
Carry hastily.

Mr. Prince looked at her curiously. "I mean your stepmother," he said
gravely. "I never had the pleasure of meeting your mother."

"No: MOTHER hasn't been in California these twelve years."

There was an intentional emphasizing of the title and of its
distinction, that began to coldly interest Prince after his first
astonishment was past.

"As I come from your stepmother now," he went on with a slight laugh,
"I must ask you to go back for a few moments to that point. After your
father's death, your mother--I mean your stepmother--recognized the fact
that your mother, the first Mrs. Tretherick, was legally and morally
your guardian, and, although much against her inclination and
affections, placed you again in her charge."

"My stepmother married again within a month after father died, and sent
me home," said Carry with great directness, and the faintest toss of her
head.

Mr. Prince smiled so sweetly, and apparently so sympathetically, that
Carry began to like him. With no other notice of the interruption
he went on, "After your stepmother had performed this act of simple
justice, she entered into an agreement with your mother to defray the
expenses of your education until your eighteenth year, when you were to
elect and choose which of the two should thereafter be your guardian,
and with whom you would make your home. This agreement, I think, you are
already aware of, and, I believe, knew at the time."

"I was a mere child then," said Carry.

"Certainly," said Mr. Prince, with the same smile. "Still the
conditions, I think, have never been oppressive to you nor your mother;
and the only time they are likely to give