own town. I have a most important matter
of business on hand but they don't want me to go. Why," he added, with
a dry laugh, "what is it to go down town at half past nine?"

"What, is it that late?" the old gentleman spoke up. "Why, I am
getting to be a late prowler. But if you have an important matter to
attend to, surely you ought to do it."

"I rarely ever go down town at night," said the banker; "that is the
reason of their uneasiness. Yes, the only cause, I assure you."

He passed out into the hall, his wife following him. He took an
umbrella from the rack, and preparing to hoist it, stepped out upon
the veranda. His wife spoke to him and he started as if he had not
noticed her. "James," she said, "something is wrong and you are
deceiving me."

"Nothing at all, my dear," he replied, hoisting the umbrella. "The
truth is, I want to see Sawyer."

"In relation to Mr. Lyman?" she asked, putting her hand on his arm to
detain him.

"Well, yes, indirectly. The truth is, I authorized Zeb to offer him a
sum of money to go away--quite too much I am sure--and I want to ask
him to withdraw the offer. I can't afford to invest that much ready
money at present, I really cannot."

"If you have been afraid that he will accept the offer--"

"What," he said, closing the umbrella and looking at her, "what do you
know about it?"

"I know, or at least I believe, that he is not a man to be bribed,--to
be turned from his purpose."

"His purpose. What is his purpose?"

"To claim his wife."

"Lucy, whatever you may be unreasonable enough to think, don't talk
that way to me. He may claim her as his wife and may force his claim,
but it will be after I am dead. I don't like the fellow personally. He
is impudent; he is an anarchist. There now," he added, hoisting the
umbrella, "go back and don't worry about me."

He stepped out upon the walk, and she stood in the door until he had
passed into the lane, into the heavy darkness of the trees. When she
returned to the parlor the minister was preparing to take his leave.

"My mission in coming might have been discharged in a moment," he
said; "but seeing that your husband was worried I did not like to
bring it up in his presence. Young Henry Bostic is soon to preach over
at Mt. Zion. I know that in this family a prejudice is felt against
him, but he is deeply in earnest and I feel that it is your Christian
duty, madam, to give him on that occasion the encouragement of your
presence