who, in her youth, had travelled abroad and had spent the
greater part of her time in the study of languages and music. She had come
to Bitumen with her father for the same reason that had brought Mr.
Hobart.

She had a quaint old place just at the edge of town. Here, during the warm
weather, she cultivated flowers and vegetables. In her home were unique
collections of botanical and geological specimens, books, and music. She
found recreation in painting both in oils and water colors, and in
plaster-casting.

She paid little attention to dress. Most frequently she might be seen in a
gown ten years behind the fashions, driving a dashing span of horses along
the rough mountain roads in search of some member of the mission school in
which she was interested. Most of the miners were Catholics, but here and
there among them she found members of her own church and sought to bring
and keep them together. Her appearance might cause a stranger to smile,
but when once he heard her cultivated voice, and caught the varying
expression of her face, he forgot all else.

Miss Hale taught Elizabeth French and music. Few days in recent years had
been too cold or stormy to keep her from driving down the rough road to
the Hobart home for the sake of the lessons.

The other branches of his daughter's education, Mr. Hobart took under his
own charge. He taught her mathematics as conscientiously as though he
expected her to enter his own profession.

This line of work had not been a burden to her. She had her father's
aptitude for study, and took up an original problem in geometry as most
girls take up their fancy work.

Elizabeth had no girl friends at Bitumen. Her father was the only really
young person she knew, for although in years he was not young, yet in the
joy he took in living, he was still a boy. He had the buoyancy of youth
and the ability of manhood. No laugh came clearer or more often than his.
No one could be dull in his presence.

His daughter took part in his pleasures. She was interested in his work;
even his business affairs were not unknown to her. There was one subject,
however, with which she was not acquainted. Many times while she was at
her books, her parents with Miss Hale were deep in a discussion, which
ceased when she joined them.

She had finished her second reading of Cicero, and reviewed all the
originals in solid geometry. Her summer suspension of study was about to
begin. She was conscious that somet