Brewster."

"I am merely recalling the fact that you once told me you cared. You
would not promise anything, I know, but it meant much that you cared. A
little difference could not have changed your feeling completely."

"When you are ready to treat me with respect I may listen to your
petition," she said, rising haughtily.

"My petition?" He did not like the word and his tact quite deserted
him. "It's as much yours as mine. Don't throw the burden of
responsibility on me, Miss Drew."

"Have I suggested going back to the old relations? You will pardon me
if I remind you of the fact that you came to-day on your own initiative
and certainly without my solicitation."

"Now, look here, Barbara--" he began, dimly realizing that it was going
to be hard, very hard, to reason.

"I am very sorry, Mr. Brewster, but you will have to excuse me. I am
going out."

"I regret exceedingly that I should have disturbed you to-day, Miss
Drew," he said, swallowing his pride. "Perhaps I may have the pleasure
of seeing you again."

As he was leaving the house, deep anger in his soul, he encountered the
Colonel. There was something about Monty's greeting, cordial as it was,
that gave the older man a hint as to the situation.

"Won't you stop for dinner, Monty?" he asked, in the hope that his
suspicion was groundless.

"Thank you, Colonel, not to-night," and he was off before the Colonel
could hold him.

Barbara was tearfully angry when her father came into the room, but as
he began to remonstrate with her the tears disappeared and left her at
white heat.

"Frankly, father, you don't understand matters," she said with slow
emphasis; "I wish you to know now that if Montgomery Brewster calls
again, I shall not see him."

"If that is your point of view, Barbara, I wish you to know mine." The
Colonel rose and stood over her, everything forgotten but the rage that
went so deep that it left the surface calm. Throwing aside his promise
to Brewster, he told Barbara with dramatic simplicity the story of the
rescue of the bank. "You see," he added, "if it had not been for that
open-hearted boy we would now be ruined. Instead of giving cotillons,
you might be giving music lessons. Montgomery Brewster will always be
welcome in this house and you will see that my wishes are respected. Do
you understand?"

"Perfectly," Barbara answered in a still voice. "As your friend I shall
try to be civil to him."

The Colonel was not satisfied with