ened the door and see him standin' there I--"

"Saw him? Who? Who is it, Isaiah? Stop that ridiculous winking this
instant. Who is it?"

"It's that young Crawford Smith feller from way out West, that's who
'tis. Ah, ha! I told you you'd be surprised."

She was surprised, there could be no doubt of that. For a moment she
stood perfectly still. Had it not been that the hall was almost dark in
the shadows of the late afternoon Isaiah would have noticed how pale
she had become. But it was evident that he did not notice it, for he
chuckled.

"I told you you'd be some surprised," he crowed. "Well, ain't you comin'
on down to see him? Seems to me if I had a beau--excuse me, a gentleman
friend--who come a-cruisin' all the way from t'other side of creation to
see me I wouldn't keep him waitin' very long. Ho! ho!"

Mary did not answer at once. When she did she was surprised to find that
she was able to speak so calmly.

"I shall be down in a moment," she said. "Isaiah, will you please go in
and stay with Uncle Zoeth until I come?"

Isaiah looked chagrined and disappointed. Visitors from the far West
were rare and especially rare was a young gentleman who Mr. Chase, with
what Captain Shadrach termed his "lovesick imagination," surmised was
Mary-'Gusta's beau. He wished to see more of him.

"Aw, say, Mary-'Gusta," he pleaded, "I'm awful busy. I don't see how I
can set along of Zoeth--Say, Mary'Gusta!"

But Mary had gone. She was hurrying along the hall toward her own room.
So Isaiah, remembering that the doctor had said Mr. Hamilton must not be
left alone, grumblingly obeyed orders and went in to sit beside him.

In her own room Mary stood, white and shaken, striving to regain her
composure. She must regain it, she must be cool and calm in order to go
through the ordeal she knew was before her. His coming could mean but
one thing: his father had still refused consent and he had come to tell
her so and to beg her to wait for him in spite of it. If only he had
written saying he was coming, if she had been forewarned, then she
might have been more ready, more prepared. Now she must summon all her
resolution and be firm and unwavering. Her purpose was as set and strong
as ever, but ah, it would be so hard to tell him! To write the letter
she had meant to write would have been easy compared to this. However,
it must be done--and done now. She went down the stairs and entered the
sitting-room.

He was sitting in the rocker b