red him to prepare for a speedy return home. When he returned to
the porch, he walked up to the group of which Dudley was one, and said
to him, after a somewhat curt salutation to the other three, "I am
sorry to cut short your day's pleasure, but I find that a matter of
grave importance necessitates our leaving immediately."

On the homeward drive Gilcrest explained the reason for this hasty
retreat. "You were in the company of three of the slyest and most
dangerous intriguers of these unsettled times. They are brilliant,
daring men, and I fear many of our adventurous young men are being led
away by their specious arguments and schemes for future greatness. You
have never been in their company before to-day, have you?" with a keen
glance at his companion.

Dudley explained that he had only exchanged a few words of ordinary
civility with the three before Gilcrest had interrupted the
conversation. He did not, however, mention that Drane had brought about
the meeting, and had spoken of the men in glowing terms.

CHAPTER XIV.

BETSY SAYS "WAIT"

Rarely ever since that August afternoon when Abner and Betsy had stood
a moment in the pathway, gazing into each other's souls, and she had
hurried away from him, could he by any pretext or maneuver succeed in
being for one moment alone with her. Always when in her presence,
either as one of the quiet home circle at her father's house, or at
church, or at a neighbor's, he was conscious of a change in her manner
towards himself. Much of her old, light-hearted gayety had vanished,
and in its stead were a new quietness and reserve, without any trace of
embarrassment, it is true, but with a demure dignity which made her
seem to repel even such advances as ordinary gallantry would prompt any
young man to make to a pretty girl.

Dudley tried vainly to win her back to her former attitude of cordial
ease. Occasionally he noticed a merry chord in her voice and something
of the old, sparkling playfulness of manner; but if he sought to answer
her quips in the same vein of pleasantry, she would color warmly,
answer gravely, and then seem to shrink from him. Never could he get
her eyes to meet his. Once or twice, in some rare opportunity when he
found himself for a brief moment alone with her, he had tried with the
most delicate and insinuating skill to approach the subject of his love
for her; but at the first hint she, like a fish that sees the line
gleaming in the sunlight, wou