auty and a heart still warm and
willing. "Children are very forward nowadays."

"There's no fool like an old fool, my dear," replied the other with
the cheerful philosophy of the miserable who love company. "These fair
women are always selfish and calculating; and she's a bold piece. My
husband says Colonel French is worth at least a million. A young wife,
who understands her business, could get anything from him that money
can buy."

"What a pity, my dear," said the widow, with a spice of malice, seeing
her own opportunity, "what a pity that you were older than your
husband! Well, it will be fortunate for the child if she marries an
old man, for beauty of her type fades early."

Old 'Poleon's fiddle, to which one of the guests was improvising an
accompaniment on the colonel's new piano, had struck up "Camptown
Races," and the rollicking lilt of the chorus was resounding through
the house.

_"Gwine ter run all night,
Gwine ter run all day,
I'll bet my money on de bobtail nag,
Oh, who's gwine ter bet on de bay?"_

Ben ran out into the hall. Graciella had changed her position and was
sitting alone, perturbed in mind.

"Come on, Graciella, let's get into the Virginia reel; it's the last
one."

Graciella obeyed mechanically. Ben, on the contrary, was unusually
animated. He had enjoyed the party better than any he had ever
attended. He had not been at many.

Colonel French, who had entered with zest into the spirit of the
occasion, participated in the reel. Every time Graciella touched his
hand, it was with the consciousness of a new element in their
relations. Until then her friendship for Colonel French had been
perfectly ingenuous. She had liked him because he was interesting, and
good to her in a friendly way. Now she realised that he was a
millionaire, eligible for marriage, from whom a young wife, if she
understood her business, might secure the gratification of every wish.

The serpent had entered Eden. Graciella had been tendered the apple.
She must choose now whether she would eat.

When the party broke up, the colonel was congratulated on every hand.
He had not only given his guests a delightful evening. He had restored
an ancient landmark; had recalled, to a people whose life lay mostly
in the past, the glory of days gone by, and proved his loyalty to
their cherished traditions.

Ben Dudley walked home with Graciella. Miss Laura went ahead of them
with Catherine, who was cheerful i