umed his pacing up and
down.

After a little Olive spoke again.

"New York IS a good ways," she said. "Maybe 'twould be better for you to
meet this lawyer man in Boston. Don't you think so?"

"Bah!"

Another interval. Then: "Zelotes?"

"Yes," impatiently. "What is it?"

"It's her boy, after all, isn't it? Our grandson, yours and mine. Don't
you think--don't you think it's your duty to go, Zelotes?"

Captain Lote stamped his foot.

"For thunderation sakes, Olive, let up!" he commanded. "You ought to
know by this time that there's one thing I hate worse than doin' my
duty, that's bein' preached to about it. Let up! Don't you say another
word."

She did not, having learned much by years of experience. He said the
next word on the subject himself. At noon, when he came home for dinner,
he said, as they rose from the table: "Where's my suitcase, up attic?"

"Why, yes, I guess likely 'tis. Why?"

Instead of answering he turned to the housekeeper, Mrs. Ellis.

"Rachel," he said, "go up and get that case and fetch it down to the
bedroom, will you? Hurry up! Train leaves at half-past two and it's
'most one now."

Both women stared at him. Mrs. Ellis spoke first.

"Why, Cap'n Lote," she cried; "be you goin' away?"

Her employer's answer was crisp and very much to the point. "I am if
I can get that case time enough to pack it and make the train," he
observed. "If you stand here askin' questions I probably shall stay to
home."

The housekeeper made a hasty exit by way of the back stairs. Mrs. Snow
still gazed wonderingly at her husband.

"Zelotes," she faltered, "are you--are you--"

"I'm goin' to New York on to-night's boat. I've telegraphed that--that
Weiss--Weiss--what-do-you-call-it--that Portygee lawyer--that I'll be to
his office to-morrow mornin'."

"But, Zelotes, we haven't scarcely talked about it, you and I, at all.
You might have waited till he came to Boston. Why do you go so SOON?"

The captain's heavy brows drew together.

"You went to the dentist's last Friday," he said. "Why didn't you wait
till next week?"

"Why--why, what a question! My tooth ached and I wanted to have it fixed
quick as possible."

"Um-m, yes. Well, this tooth aches and I want it fixed or hauled out,
one or t'other. I want the thing off my mind. . . . Don't TALK to me?"
he added, irritably. "I know I'm a fool. And," with a peremptory wave of
the hand, "don't you DARE say anything about DUTY!"

He was back again two