you must not do that--father--" the appellative came from his lips
almost tenderly, as if he had long considered the use of it with pleasure,
and now he spoke it as a tender bond meant to comfort.

The older man started and his face softened. A flash of understanding and
love passed between the two men.

"Remember, she has said she loves some one else. She could never be mine
now."

There was terrible sadness in the words as David spoke them, and his voice
broke. Madam Schuyler turned away and took out her handkerchief, an
article of apparel for which she seldom had use except as it belonged to
every well ordered toilet.

The father stood looking hopelessly at David and taking in the thought.
Then he too bowed his head and groaned.

"And my daughter, _my little Kate_ has done it!" Marcia covered her face
with the curtains and her tears fell fast.

David went and stood beside the Squire and touched his arm.

"Don't!" he said pleadingly. "You could not help it. It was not your
fault. Do not take it so to heart!"

"But it is my disgrace. I have brought up a child who could do it. I
cannot escape from that. It is the most dishonorable thing a woman can do.
And look how she has done it, brought shame upon us all! Here we have a
wedding on our hands, and little or no time to do anything! I have lived
in honor all my life, and now to be disgraced by my own daughter!"

Marcia shuddered at her father's agony. She could not bear it longer. With
a soft cry she went to him, and nestled her head against his breast
unnoticed.

"Father, father, don't!" she cried.

But her father went on without seeming to see her.

"To be disgraced and deserted and dishonored by my own child! Something
must be done. Send the servants! Let the wedding be stopped!"

He looked at Madam and she started toward the door to carry out his
bidding, but he recalled her immediately.

"No, stay!" he cried. "It is too late to stop them all. Let them come. Let
them be told! Let the disgrace rest upon the one to whom it belongs!"

Madam stopped in consternation! A wedding without a bride! Yet she knew it
was a serious thing to try to dispute with her husband in that mood. She
paused to consider.

"Oh, father!" exclaimed Marcia, "we couldn't! Think of David."

Her words seemed to touch the right chord, for he turned toward the young
man, intense, tender pity in his face.

"Yes, David! We are forgetting David! We must do all we can to make it
eas