"I suppose you didn't come here for compliments, Mr. Campbell?" said
Florence, coldly.

"You are right: I didn't."

"May I ask if you are in San Francisco on business?"

"You take things very coolly, I must say, Miss Douglas. Certainly you
cannot be ignorant of my motive in coming here at great personal
inconvenience."

"I hope I have nothing to do with your reason."

"You are the sole reason."

"I am sorry to hear it."

"I came to remonstrate with you on the very unwise step you took in
running away from your legal guardian."

"My legal guardian, as you call him, though I look upon him as such only
as far as my property is concerned, rendered the step necessary."

"I don't see how."

"In plain terms, Mr. Orton Campbell, I believe that you and your father
entered into a conspiracy to keep my fortune in the family by inducing
me to become your wife."

"I certainly did ask you to become my wife, but it was not because of
your fortune," answered the young man.

Florence's lip curled. She thoroughly disbelieved his statement. Though
she said nothing, it was clear to him from her expression that she put
no confidence in his words.

"You may believe me or not," he said, doggedly; "but why should you
think so poorly of yourself as to suppose you have nothing to attract
lovers except your money?"

"I may not be so modest as you suppose, Mr. Campbell. I do believe that
I have won the love of a true and noble man. My doubt only related to
yourself."

"You mean Richard Dewey, I suppose?" said Orton Campbell, with a sneer.

"I do mean Richard Dewey," answered Florence, with composure.

"By the way, he came to California, I believe."

"Yes."

"And you came here in pursuit of him?" he added, with a sneer.

"I came here to find him, knowing that in him I had a true friend, while
your father's persecution and your own made me feel the need of one."

"Have you found him? Do you know where he is?" asked Orton Campbell,
eagerly.

"I only know he is somewhere at the mines. I have taken steps to find
him, and hope eventually to succeed."

"Why don't you advertise?" asked the young man, with an angry sneer.

"Would you advise it?" asked Miss Douglas, coolly.

"No," muttered Orton, for he feared such a step might prove successful.
"What steps have you taken?" he asked.

"I prefer to keep them to myself."

"Miss Douglas," said Orton Campbell, after a pause, "all this is very
foolish and humiliating. There