oment his cheery voice was heard ringing out,
"Hello!"
"Hello, Judge! Is that you?... This is Dunham.... Chicago. Yes, the
business is all done, and I'm ready to come home, but I want to give you a
bit of news. Do you remember the young woman who dined with us at Mrs.
Bowman's and played the piano so well?... Yes, the night I met you....
Well, you half guessed that night how it was with us, I think. And now she
is here, and we are to be married at once, before I return. I am just
about to go to the church, but I wanted your blessing first."
"Blessings and congratulations on you both!" came in a hearty voice over
the phone. "Tell her she shall be at once taken into the firm as chief
consultant on condition that she plays for me whenever I ask her."
A great gladness entered the young man's heart as he again hung up the
receiver, at this glimpse into the bright vista of future possibilities.
He hurried into the street, forgetful of engravers. The half-hour was up
and one minute over.
In the meantime, the girl had slipped into her own garments once more with
a relief and joy she could scarcely believe were her own. Had it all been
an ugly dream, this life she had been living for the past few months, and
was she going back now to rest and peace and real life? Nay, not going
back, but going forward. The sweet color came into her beautiful face at
thought of the one who, though not knowing her, yet had loved her enough
to take her as she was, and lift her out of her trouble. It was like the
most romantic of fairy tales, this unexpected lover and the joy that had
come to her. How had it happened to her quiet, conventional life? Ah, it
was good and dear, whatever it was! She pressed her happy eyes with her
fluttering, nervous fingers, to keep the glad tears back, and laughed out
to herself a joyful ripple such as she had not uttered since her uncle's
death.
A knock at the door brought her back to realities again. Her heart
throbbed wildly. Had he come back to her already? Or had her enemy found
her out at last?
Tryon Dunham hurried up the steps of the Y.W.C.A. Building, nearly
knocking over a baggy individual in rubbers, who was lurking in the
entrance. The young man had seen a boy in uniform, laden with two enormous
boxes, run up the steps as he turned the last corner. Hastily writing a
few lines on one of his cards and slipping it into the largest box, he
sent them both up to the girl's room. Then he sauntered to t
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