, always accompanied
her husband on such journeys. She declared that both he and "Tummas,"
who had long since been reluctantly surrendered by the Indians, were so
incapable of caring for themselves in the wilderness, that her presence
was absolutely necessary to protect them from its dangers.

To this the little paymaster answered that the wilderness had no
dangers save such as could be overcome by a man of brains and
ingenuity, but that he was always glad to have Madam Bullen accompany
him on his trips, and thereby escape, for a while, the perilous cares
and anxieties of city life.

From this Oswego trip, which had to do with providing a great quantity
of presents for Pontiac and his followers, they returned to their
spacious town house on the Bowling Green in time to give a grand ball
on the eve of Edith Hester's wedding to Lieutenant James Christie.

Donald was in town, of course, and would appear in uniform for the last
time at this ball, as he had resigned from the army in order to devote
his whole attention to the great estate left by his father.

"When I rebuild Tawtry House, I shall want you and Edith to come and
live with me," he said to Christie, "for without you the loneliness
will be horrible."

"I'm afraid you'll have to bear it, old man, for I'm not inclined to
give up soldiering yet awhile, and especially so soon after promotion,"
replied the lieutenant, with a laugh. "But you can easily banish
loneliness by installing a mistress in Tawtry House. I'm sure there
are plenty of pretty girls in New York who would fill the position
charmingly."

"Perhaps there are," answered Donald, indifferently. "I must confess,
though, that I have yet to meet one of them whom I could fancy
presiding gracefully over the hospitalities of a forest castle."

In truth Donald had not enjoyed his season of New York life, and was
ever drawing unfavorable comparisons between it and his previous winter
spent so happily in a wilderness hut, amid the mighty forests of the
distant Wisconsin. He rarely alluded to those days now, but in his
heart of hearts he fondly cherished their memories.

Had the ball given by the Bullens been in honor of any person save his
own dear sister, Donald would have excused himself from attendance, so
weary was he of such festivities. As it was, he dropped in very late,
when the dancing was at its height, and stood for a while listlessly
watching the gay scene from one of the entrances to the