that Grace should
want nothing which I could give her, but again he utterly ignored me, and,
wrenching on the curb, backed the horse a few paces. Then, and I shall
never forget the bitterness of his tone, he said:

"First those fools in British Columbia, then the men I settled in
Carrington, and now my child to turn against me in my adversity. You have
made your choice, girl, and you will rue it. I will humble you all before
I die."

He caught at his breath, his face twitched, and his left hand sank to his
side, but he wheeled the black horse with his right and left us without
another word, while Grace sat looking after him with a white face and
tears in her eyes.

"I cannot tell you what this has cost me, Ralph," she said. "No, you must
not say anything just now. Give me time to think; I can hardly bear it."

We did not resume our journey immediately, and when we passed the next
rise Colonel Carrington was far off on the prairie.

"We will wait until harvest," Grace said, in reply to my questions. "There
will, I fear, be changes by then."

Half an hour later we rode into sight of Carrington, and both
instinctively drew rein; then Grace signified approval as without speaking
we rode on again. Still her faint smile showed that she recognized my own
feeling that we were riding boldly into the camp of the enemy. Miss
Carrington met us at the entrance, and when I dismounted said to me
aside:

"My brother came in a little while since in an angry mood. I fancy he must
have met you, and will not ask injudicious questions; but, to please me,
you will go. He has been broken in health lately, and any further
excitement is to be avoided just now."

I took my leave accordingly, for as far as she could do so without
offending her brother Miss Carrington sympathized with us, and as I rode
back to Fairmead I could not forget the Colonel's curious manner when he
concluded the interview. I also recollected how Calvert had said: "That
man will end with a stroke, or in a fit, when he lets his passion master
him some day."

CHAPTER XXX

CARRINGTON ASSERTS HIS AUTHORITY

A week or two passed, and then when riding to Lone Hollow on business
connected with the creamery scheme I chanced upon Jasper. I had seen very
little of him since Harry returned, and taxed him with it, saying: "Have
we frightened you away from Fairmead lately?"

"No," he answered, with some confusion. "I guess there's no place in the
Dominion where I should