de him. We left the main line on the
prairie and went south in search of you, and when we could only discover
that you had gone to British Columbia I am sorry to say that my father
expressed his disappointment very forcibly--but you know his way. Then
while we stayed at the chalet we read about the opening of the new line,
and he grew excited at a mention of your name. 'We'll go right down and
see that opening, lass,' he said. 'I've a letter to one of the railroad
leaders, and I'll make him invite us;' and so we came. When my father sets
his heart on anything he generally obtains it. Now we will talk about
Canada."

The flowering creeper partly hid us, but it left openings between, framing
the prospect of glittering peak and forest-filled valley with green
tracery, while warm sunlight beat through. So, in contrast to the past, I
found it comforting to lounge away the time there with a fair companion,
while glancing down the glistening metals I told how we had built the
line. Alice was a good listener, and the tale may have had its interest,
while--and this is not wholly due to vanity--no man talks better than when
he speaks to a sympathizing woman of the work that he is proud of. It was
no disloyalty to Grace, but when once or twice she laid her thin hand on
my arm I liked to have it there, and see the smile creep into her eyes
when I told of Lee's doings. So the minutes fled, until at last a shadow
fell upon us, and I saw Grace pass close by with her father. For an
instant her eyes met mine, then I felt that they rested on my companion,
whose head was turned toward me confidentially and away from Grace, and I
fumed inwardly, for she spoke to the Colonel and passed on without a
greeting.

"That is surely Miss Carrington," said Alice looking up later with a
faintly perceptible trace of resentment. "Why did she not speak to either
of us?"

It was a troublesome question, because I could not well explain what my
exact relations were with Grace, nor how her father's presence might
perhaps restrain her, so that I was glad when Martin Lorimer suddenly
joined us. It seemed fated that circumstances should array themselves
against me. The rest of the afternoon was spent in hilarious merriment,
and, though as a rule the inhabitants of that region are a peaceful folk,
a few among them celebrated the occasion by breaking windows with pistol
shots and similar vagaries. Still, even those who owned the glass took it
in good part; an