cago, David will build at New York--a fabric of
love, airy, it may be, but graceful and beautiful.

Each night he indites in type-writer and addresses to Esther Lockwin an
essay on the value of hope in great afflictions. The tone grows
familiar, as the weeks pass by. "My dear madam" becomes "my dear Mrs.
Lockwin," and at last "my dear friend." To-night, far into the small
hours, he pours out his advice and comfort:

"Be brave, my dear friend," he proceeds. "Undreamed-of happiness may
still be yours, if you can but come to place confidence in your faithful
correspondent. There are things more strange than anything which the
books give us. As a matter of fact, dear friend, the writers do not dare
to make life as it is, for fear of outrunning the bounds of fiction. Let
me give you comfort, and at the proper time I shall be able, not to
reveal myself, perhaps, but to offer you opportunity to give me a signal
that my services are valuable to you.

"Preserve your health. This admonition has been iterated in the hundreds
of different treatises I have placed before you. My diligence and
patience must recommend themselves. My hope must reinspire your drooping
energies. Until to-morrow at eventide, adieu!"

The time is ripe to learn the effect of these courteous ministrations.
David Lockwin dares not intrust his secret to a chance acquaintance like
Corkey, who is completely devoted to Mrs. Lockwin. What man can now be
found who will support a possible relation of mutual friend in this
singular case?

The thought of Dr. Tarpion comes again and again.

Clearly a lover cannot wait forever. And he must know whether or not
Esther reads the letters. But, of course, she reads them!

"And they comfort her, God bless her!" cries the happy lover. But he
must not wait too long. She needs him. She must be rescued from Chicago.

Why not write to Dr. Tarpion? He is a dear old friend.

He seems very dear, now that Lockwin needs him. The doctor is the
administrator of the estate, if we come to recollect. Certainly!

Now, therefore, let David undertake an interrogatory, and tremblingly
mail it to Dr. Tarpion. To be sure, this is better. Suppose David
Lockwin the unknown monitor, had invited Esther to advertise in a
newspaper, and the advertisement had been left out! Or, suppose he had
suggested a certain signal at her house, or in New York--anywhere! It
would be a chance too great to take. No lover should leave