s, his heart bursting with
sympathy and tenderness.

To his further surprise Stuart saw the doctor standing in the shadows
at the corner of the stage looking over the gossiping, noisy crowd with
a look of anger and horror.

When the last note of the song died away, quivering with a supernatural
tenderness and passion, he brushed a tear from his eyes, lifted his
hands high above his head and made a motion which said to her:
"Tumultuous applause!"

She nodded and smiled and he rushed behind the scenes to ask an
explanation.

He grasped both her hands and found them cold and trembling with
excitement.

"What on earth, does this mean?"

"Simply that I was engaged to sing to-night--and I wanted to surprise
you. Didn't you like my song?"

Stuart held her hands tightly.

"I never heard you sing so divinely!"

"Then I'm very happy."

"How could you sing at all under such conditions?"

"I had one good listener."

"I could have killed them because they wouldn't hear you."

"But you enjoyed it?"

"It lifted me to the gates of heaven, dear."

"Then I don't care whether any one else heard it or not. But I did so
much wish that she might have heard it, or her husband, because they
are from the South. I thought they would be as charmed with the old
song as you have always been and I'd make a hit with them, perhaps."

"But I don't understand, your father hates Bivens so."

A big hand was laid on his shoulder, he turned and faced the doctor
smiling.

"But I don't hate him, my boy! I've given up such foolishness. We've
buried the hatchet. I'm to see him in a few minutes and we are to be
good friends."

"Bivens invited you here to discuss a business proposition to-night!"
Stuart exclaimed, blankly.

"No, no, no," the doctor answered. "I came with Harriet, of course. Her
music teacher placed her on the programme. But Mr. Bivens and I have
had some correspondence and I'm to see him in a little while and talk
things over quite informally, of course, but effectively."

"He has agreed to a conference here?" the young lawyer asked,
anxiously.

"Why, of course. His butler has just told me he would see me
immediately after the ball begins."

Stuart breathed easier.

"Then, it's all right. I was just going to suggest that I speak to Mr.
Bivens for you."

"Not at all, my boy, not necessary, I assure you. It will be all right.
In five minutes' talk our little differences will all be settled."

"If I can be of an