amous for her absent mindedness, now that she was
soon to be married they chose to lay anything of the kind to the fact
of her being so deeply in love.

"Let me tell you the latest joke," cried Aleck. "Last Sunday, when Mr.
Arthur was here, they went to service at St. John's. The usher wanted
to take them up front, but Sister Helen, being very modest, stopped at
a seat half-way and asked politely, 'Can't we _occupew this py_?'"

"Aleck, you are too bad! I only half said it," exclaimed the victim,
while the others shouted.

Bess and Louise were in the seventh heaven of delight at the prospect
of being bridesmaids, and took a rapturous interest in all the
preparations, their only regret being that Mr. Caruth was not to be
the groom. Everybody was so occupied with other things that afternoon
that Carl's remark about Jim was forgotten till he came in at
dinner-time, looking very much excited.

"You won't think I am crazy now. The Carters have gone to smash, and
it is reported that Mr. Carter tried to kill himself."

"Carl! How dreadful! Are you sure?" Aunt Zelie dropped her book in her
astonishment.

"I am not altogether surprised," said Mr. Hazeltine, coming in. "He
was known as one of the most reckless speculators in the country. His
wealth was gained in that way, and now it has gone as it came."

"Think of poor Jim," said Carl.

"Poor boy! And yet it may not be the worst thing for him," added Mrs.
Howard.

"What shall I do?" asked Carl. "I am awfully sorry for him, but I am
afraid he won't want to see me, and I shouldn't know what to say,
anyway. I wonder if he will have to give up college and everything.
Poor Jim!"

Poor Jim, indeed! There could not have been found a more wretchedly
miserable boy than he. The loss of their money he hardly thought
of,--did not realize,--but the horrid notoriety of it all made him
sick.

With burning face he read the sensational newspaper reports, and
thought how the boys at school were talking about him--perhaps pitying
him. He did not want their pity; he would rather have them
indifferent. He wished he might never see any of them again.

Toward his father he felt a certain resentment. It was not true that
Mr. Carter had tried to kill himself, but mind and body had given way
under the long strain, and he was ill with brain fever.

Mrs. Carter was altogether unnerved by the suddenness of the calamity,
so that she was not allowed in her husband's room. If it had not been