returns to find that she has missed seeing
you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Dean," said Darrell, slowly; "on some accounts I would
have been very glad to meet Kate; but on the whole I think perhaps it is
better as it is."

"I don't suppose you remember her except as you saw her when you first
came," Mrs. Dean added, wistfully; "I should like to have you see her as
she is now. I think she has matured into a beautiful young woman."

"Yes, I remember her, Mrs. Dean; she is beautiful."

"Oh, do you? She will be glad to hear that!" Mrs. Dean exclaimed, with a
happy smile.

Darrell came nearer and took her hands within his own. "Will you give
her a message from me, just as I give it to you? She will understand."

"Oh, yes; gladly."

"Tell her," said Darrell, and his voice trembled slightly, "I remember
her. Tell her I will see her 'at the time appointed;' and that I never
forget!"

_Chapter XXX_

AFTER MANY YEARS

The evening train, as it was known,--a local from the south,--was
approaching the little village of Ellisburg, winding its way over miles
of rolling country dotted with farm-houses of snowy white; to the east,
rough, rugged hills surmounted by a wall of forest, while far to the
west could be seen the sandy beaches and blue waters of Lake Ontario.

The arrival of this train formed one of the chief events in the daily
life of the little town, and each summer evening found a group of from
twenty to fifty of the village folk awaiting its incoming. To them it
afforded a welcome break in the monotony of their lives, a fleeting
glimpse of people and things from that vague world outside the horizon
bounding their own.

Amid the usual handful of passengers left at the station on this
particular evening were two who immediately drew the attention of the
crowd. Two men, one something over fifty years of age, tall, with erect
form and dark hair well silvered, and with a grave, sweet face; the
other not more than seven-and-twenty, but with hair as white as snow,
while his face wore an inscrutable look, as though the dark, piercing
eyes held within their depths secrets which the sphinx-like lips would
not reveal. Closely following them was a splendid collie, trying in
various ways to give expression to his delight at being released from
the confinement of the baggage-car.

There was a sudden, swift movement in the crowd as a young man stepped
quickly forward and grasped the younger of the two by the hand.

"Darr