iscovery."

"Discovery?"

"Yes, discovery. It was fairly plain; I might say it was the feature of
the view; in fact it stuck right out of the landscape--hit you in the
eye, so to speak."

"The landscape? What can you mean?"

"Mean? Simply that I am at a loss as to whether Mr. Smith is to be
congratulated more upon his exquisite taste or upon his extraordinary
good fortune."

"Good fortune, yes, is it not splendid?"

"Splendid is the exact word," said the doctor stiffly.

"And I am so glad."

"Yes, you certainly look happy," replied the doctor with a grim attempt
at a smile, and feeling as if more enthusiasm were demanded from him.
"Let me offer you my congratulations and say good-by. I am leaving."

"You will be back soon, though?"

"Hardly. I am leaving the West."

"Leaving the West? Why? What? When?"

"To-night. Now. I must say good-by."

"To-night? Now?" Her voice sank almost to a whisper. Her lips were white
and quivering. "But do they know at the house? Surely this is sudden."

"Oh, no, not so sudden. I have thought of it for some time; indeed, I
have made my plans."

"Oh--for some time? You have made your plans? But you never hinted such
a thing to--to any of us."

"Oh, well, I don't tell my plans to all the world," said the doctor with
a careless laugh.

The girl shrank from him as if he had cut her with his riding whip. But,
swiftly recovering herself, she cried with gay reproach:

"Why, Mr. Smith, we are losing all our friends at once. It is cruel of
you and Dr. Martin to desert us at the same time. Mr. Smith, you
know," she continued, turning to the doctor with an air of exaggerated
vivacity, "leaves for the East to-night too."

"Smith--leaving?" The doctor gazed stupidly at that person.

"Yes, you know he has come into a big fortune and is going to be--"

"A fortune?"

"Yes, and he is going East to be married."

"Going EAST to be married?"

"Yes, and I was--"

"Going EAST?" exclaimed the doctor. "I don't understand. I thought
you--"

"Oh, yes, his young lady is awaiting him in the East. And he is going to
spend his money in such a splendid way."

"Going EAST?" echoed the doctor, as if he could not fix the idea with
sufficient firmness in his brain to grasp it fully.

"Yes, I have just told you so," replied the girl.

"Married?" shouted the doctor, suddenly rushing at Smith and gripping
him by both arms. "Smith, you shy dog--you lucky dog! Let me wish you
joy, old man. B