g contracts with the
company in consideration of liberal and satisfactory rewards. The
Harris-Ingram Steel Co. thus equipped began operations.

CHAPTER XXIII

"GOLD MARRIES GOLD"

Alfonso Harris was content to leave his friends to continue their
journey, as they were willing that he should return to the Netherlands,
or to Amsterdam, where lived the beautiful woman who had won his heart.

Christine de Ruyter cordially welcomed Alfonso back to study art as he
expressed it to her on the first evening after his arrival. Alfonso was
much in Christine's society, at art exhibits, in carriage drives, and on
pleasure boat excursions down the bay. Weeks went by before he could
summon courage enough to ask Christine's hand in marriage.

In the game of hearts Alfonso thought himself an able combatant. He had
studied Christine in action and in repose, in society, and when alone
under his protection at Scheveningen, and at home, and he prided himself
that he knew at least one woman thoroughly. She loved art, flowers,
music, and fine dress, and was very ambitious. The latter trait was
doubtless inbred from her distinguished naval relatives.

Christine had many acquaintances among the best families of Holland. Her
beauty, coupled with the fact that she was an heiress, made her the
object of much attention from artists and members of clubs, but possibly
her love, or affection for art, might have sprung from the desire to gain
more knowledge of how to make herself attractive in dress, manner, and
conversation. Christine was not offensively vain, but she was
passionately fond of admiration. Alfonso had never dreamed that Christine
was not genuine at heart. She appeared to him to make much of her
American acquaintance, introducing him to her many friends, young ladies
as well as young gentlemen, and always seemed to prefer his company to
others.

She manifested even tenderness for him, expressed her strong liking for
America, and Alfonso believed that Christine was truly fond of him. No
arguments or persuasions could have convinced him otherwise. The contrary
wishes of his own family, the eloquence of a Webster, winds from the
poles, all combined, could not have cooled his ardor. Alfonso had firmly
resolved to wed Christine, come what would.

He had often dreamed of her smiles, her pretty blue eyes, and her fleecy
hair floating in the breezes of the Zuider Zee. He had also dreamed of a
brilliant wedding in Holland, of a la