weeks' illness up the village; that she had been passionately in
love with him from the first, and that he was a villain and a
traitor. A thousand things, too slight to recapitulate, but all
tending to the same end, convinced me of it. He was changeful by
nature. Rose's pretty piquant beauty bewitched him; and this was
the end.

"I hope I may be mistaken," I said; "for Kate's sake I hope so, for
she loves him with a love of which he is totally unworthy; but, I
confess, I doubt it."

I cannot describe to you the anger of Captain Danton, and I pray I
may never witness the like again. When men like him, quiet and
good-natured by habit, do get into a passion, the passion is
terrible indeed.

"The villain!" he cried, through his clenched teeth. "The cruel
villain! I'll shoot him like a dog!"

I was frightened. I quail even now at the recollection, and the
dread of what may come. I tried to quiet him, but in vain; he shook
me off like a child.

"Let me, alone, Grace!" he said, passionately. "I shall never rest
until I have sent a bullet through his brain!"

It was then half-past eleven; the train for Montreal passed through
St. Croix at twelve. Captain Danton went out, and ordered round his
gig, in a tone that made the stable-boy stare. I followed him to
his room, and found him putting his pistols in his coat-pocket. I
asked him where he was going, almost afraid to speak to him, his
face was so changed.

"To Montreal first," was his answer; "to look for that matchless
scoundrel; afterwards to Quebec, to blow out his brains, and those
of my shameful daughter!"

I begged, I entreated, I cried. It was all useless. He would not
listen to me; but he grew quieter.

"Don't tell Kate," he said. "I won't see her; say I have gone upon
business. If I find Stanford in Montreal, I will come back. Rose
may go to perdition her own way. If I don't--" He paused, his face
turning livid. "If I don't, I'll send you a despatch to say I have
left for Quebec."

He ran down-stairs without saying good-bye, jumped into the gig,
and drove off. I was so agitated that I dared not go down stairs
when luncheon-hour came. Eeny came up immediately after, and asked
me if I was ill. I pleaded a headache as an excuse for remaining in
my room all