ike a cad, I'm afraid.
When a fellow has been building air castles and all at once they tumble
down upon his head he--well, he is likely to forget other things.
Forgive me."

She took his hand. She could keep back the tears no longer; her eyes
filled.

"There is nothing for me to forgive," she said. "If you will forgive me,
that is all I ask. And--and let me still be your friend."

"Of course. Bless you, Mary! I--I can't talk any more now. You'll--"
with an attempt at a smile--"you'll have to give me a little time to get
my bearings, as your Uncle Shad would say."

"And--and won't you go back to your father? I shall feel so much happier
if you do."

He hesitated. Then he nodded.

"If you wish it--yes," he said. "I suppose it is the thing I ought to
do. Dad will be happy, at any rate. Oh, Mary, CAN'T you?"

"No, Crawford, no. Yes, your father will be happy. And--and by and by
you will be, too, I know. Are you going?"

"Yes, I think I had better. I don't feel like meeting anyone and your
Uncle Shad will be here soon, I suppose. Your man here--Isaiah--told me
of Mr. Hamilton's sickness. I'm sorry."

"Yes, poor Uncle Zoeth! He is gaining a little, however. Crawford, I
won't ask you to stay. Perhaps it will be best for both of us if you do
not. But won't you write me just once more? Just to tell me that you and
your father are reconciled? I should like to know that. And do forgive
me--Oh, do! I HAD to say it, Crawford!"

"I forgive you, Mary. Of course you had to say it. . . . But . . . Well,
never mind. Yes, I'll write, of course. I hope . . . No, I can't say
that, not now. I'd better go at once, I think, before I . . . Good-by."

He seized her hand, pressed it tightly, took his hat from the table and
his bag from the floor and swung out of the door. In the doorway she
stood looking after him. At the gate he turned, waved his hand, and
hurried on. He did not look back again.

When at half-past six Captain Shadrach, having left Annabel and the boy
in charge of the store, came home for supper, Isaiah had some news to
tell him. It was surprising news.

"You don't say!" exclaimed the Captain. "Well, well, I want to know! All
the way from out West, eh? Sho! Where is he now?"

Isaiah shook his head. "That's the funny part of it, he's gone," he
said.

"Gone? Gone where?"

"I don't know. All I know is he come and said he wanted to see
Mary-'Gusta--I went up and told her and she come down to see him. I
stayed