lowed his eyes to rest on Daisy's beautiful face for, perhaps,
the first time.

"In a city like this," he said, "there's always temptations to do
wrong, but I think having this" (he touched his breast pocket where the
locket was) "helps me to do what mother would have liked me to."

He brushed the corner of one eye with the back of his hand. Perhaps
there was a tear in it. Perhaps a cinder.

V

It came to be known in the restaurant that the stranger's name was
Barstow, and very soon he had ceased to be a stranger. His business in
that quarter of the city, whatever it may have been, was at first
intermittent; he would take, perhaps, three meals in a week at
Linnevitch's; latterly he often came twice in one day. Always orderly
and quiet, Barstow gradually, however, established pleasant and even
joking terms with the waitresses. But with Daisy he never joked. He
called the other girls by their first names, as became a social
superior, but Daisy was always Miss Obloski to him. With Linnevitch
alone he made no headway. Linnevitch maintained a pointedly surly and
repellent attitude, as if he really wished to turn away a profitable
patronage. And Barstow learned to leave the proprietor severely alone.

One night, after Barstow had received his change, he remained for a few
minutes talking with Daisy. "What do you find to do with yourself
evenings, Miss Obloski?" he asked.

"I generally sit with Mr. and Mrs. Linnevitch and sew," she answered.

"That's not a very exciting life for a young lady. Don't you ever take
in a show, or go to a dance?"

She shook her head.

"Don't you like to dance?"

"I know I'd like it," she said with enthusiasm; "but I never had a
chance to try."

"You haven't!" exclaimed Barstow. "What a shame! Some night, if you
like, I'll take you to an academy--a nice quiet one, mostly for
beginners--where they give lessons. If you'd like, I'll teach you
myself."

Delight showed in Daisy's face.

"Good!" said Barstow. "It's a go. How about to-n--" He broke off short.
Linnevitch, very surly and very big, was within hearing, although his
attention appeared elsewhere.

"Some time soon, then," said Barstow in a lower voice, and aloud, "Well,
good-night, Miss Obloski."

Her eyes were upon the glass door and the darkness beyond into which
Barstow had disappeared. She was returned to earth by Linnevitch's voice
close to her ear. It was gentle and understanding.

"You like dot feller--eh?"

Daisy