half-timid caress, in the undoubted honesty of his
resolution to be all her fondest wishes would have him, and in no
easily shaken conviction that, even as he stood, he was a remarkably
fine fellow, well calculated to make any girl happy, it was not
difficult for Willett to rise superior to his past--to forget it, in
fact, and to fancy himself for all times the high-minded, love-guided
gentleman he stood to-day. Why should he not to the full rejoice in her
delicious homage?--indulge her sweet rhapsodies?--encourage her fond
day dreams? It was so easy now to be all deference and tenderness to
the gentle mother he was soon to rob of her one darling, to be all
respect and attention to the gallant old soldier father, to be
everything that was exquisitely tender, fond, impassioned to this
innocent and lovely girl, who trembled with delight at his kiss and
clung in speechless rapture to his side. Life for him, even here at
desolate Almy, had suddenly become a veritable heaven. Small wonder
then that he quite forgot the purpose of his coming, the sordid events
that preceded that most fortunate catastrophe, the fire,--forgot or
thrust aside all consideration of the episode at the store, the
encounter at Harris's bedside, the events of the evening when he was
hurled headlong among the rocks, the victim of 'Tonio's vengeful aim.
He had even ceased to remember that he had ever been capable of
considering "Hefty" Harris a rival, that he had ever been capable of
undermining or intriguing or inspiring an official report that
reflected sorely on Harris as an officer and leader. In his present
mood, in fine, forgetful of all his past, his heart was overflowing
with the milk of human kindness, even to Harris, and, having
successfully tricked him out of everything worth having at the post,
was quite ready to forgive him and once more be the friend, comrade and
classmate of his own imaginings.

Harris alone had not come to congratulate him, but then, as Willett
well knew, Harris could not. Mrs. Stannard and Dr. Bentley both
reported him still too weak to walk about. He had had much fever and
pain and loss of sleep, said they. But now, when in the soft light of
this Friday evening, Willett essayed a stroll up the line, with Lilian
almost dancing by his side, and with fond eyes following the graceful
pair, he took it quite amiss that Harris did not come forth to envy,
and to add his felicitations. Come to think of it, that very truthful
wo