drove on the Doctor to disclosure.

"Baron von Rittenheim's sister-in-law."

"His sister-in-law!" cried Bob.

"What in the world will he do with her in that cabin of his?"
ejaculated Mrs. Morgan.

"Is she pretty?" This from Bob.

The Doctor was quite satisfied with the sensation he had aroused, and
sat down to tell his story comfortably.

"Ah've just come from Oakwood, and Sydney told me. It seems she turned
up last night after the Baron got home from the picnic; drove out from
Asheville. He had to go and get Melissa Yarebrough to come and look
after her."

"He wasn't expecting her, then?"

"Sydney says no. Of course he couldn't ask visitors to that shack of
his."

"Ah suppose she hadn't any idea he was living that-a-way."

"Ah reckon not. She's his brother Maximilian's wife, or widow, rather,
for she brought him the news of his brother's death. Sydney says he was
quite broken up about it when he came over soon this morning to ask
Mrs. Carroll if she would take her in. The old lady'd gone to fetch her
when Ah got there."

"Did you wait?"

"You bet!"

"Is she pretty?" Bob asked again, with some insistence. Perhaps the
Baron--how could he, though? But there was at least a chance of his
falling in love with his own countrywoman.

"Pretty? I should say so! She looks like a lovely child, or an angel on
a Christmas card, or something. Oh, you needn't grin. She won't look at
you!"

"Saving all her looks for you, I suppose! Can she speak English?"

"Yes; but not enough to hurt anything. You'd ought to have seen her run
up to Sydney, just like a little girl, and cry out, 'Oh, I thank you
for that you have been so kind, every one, to my dear Friedrich!'"

"How did Sydney take that?" Mrs. Morgan could not resist a glance at
her son.

"Oh, Sydney always does everything all right."

"What did she say to you, dad?"

"Oh, something about Friedrich telling her that Mrs. Carroll and Ah
were his best friends."

"How long's she going to stay?"

"Ah don't know. Ah came away right off."

At Oakwood Baroness Hilda von Rittenheim's coming partook of the nature
of an event. Sydney, who never had happened to hear even her name
mentioned, went about during the time of her grandmother's absence in a
state of agreeable anticipation. She was curious to see this unexpected
arrival, and she took pleasure in arranging flowers in her room, and in
shading the windows to produce the most desirable light.

"It will please