began as a canal-boy."

She looked at him with quick sympathy. At once she fancied that she
could read old marks of want on his face. His knuckles were knobbed
like a laborer's. He had had a hard fight! It certainly would be
pleasant to rain down comfort and luxury on the good, plucky fellow!

"Of course that was all long ago," said Perry. "I'm not ashamed of it.
As Judge Baker remarked the other day, 'The acknowledged aristocrats of
America, to-day, are its self-made men.' He ought to know. The Bakers
are the top of the heap in New York. Very exclusive. I've been
intimate there for years. No, Miss Dunbar, I may have begun as a
mule-driver on a canal, but I am choice in my society. My wife will
not find a man or woman in my circle who is half-cut."

Lucy drew a long breath. To live all day and every day with this man!

And yet--she was so tired! There was a good deal of money to manage,
and he could do that. He would like a gay, hospitable house, and so
would she, and they would be kind to the poor--and he was an
Episcopalian, too. There would be no hitch there. Lucy was a zealous
High Churchwoman.

Why should she not do it? The man was as good as gold at heart. Jean
called him a cad, but the caddishness was only skin deep.

Mr. Perry watched her, reading her thoughts more keenly than she
guessed.

"One thing I will say in justice to myself," he said. "You are a rich
woman. If you marry me, YOU will know, if nobody else does, that I am
no fortune-hunter. I shall always be independent of my wife. Every
dollar she owns shall be settled on her before I go with her to the
altar."

"Oh, I'm not thinking of the money," said Lucy impatiently.

"Then you are thinking of me!" He leaned over her. She felt as if she
had been suddenly dragged too close to a big unpleasant fire. "I know
you don't love me," he panted, "you cold little angel, you! But you do
like me? Eh? just a little bit, Lucy? Marry me. Give me a chance.
I'll bring you to me. If there is a single spark of love in your heart
for me, I'll blow it into a flame! I can do it, I tell you!" He
caught her fiercely by the shoulder.

Lucy drew back and threw out her hands. "Let me have time to think!"

"Time? You've had a year!"

"One more day. Come again this evening----"

"This evening? I've come so often!" staring breathlessly into her
face. "It will be no use, I can see that. Well, as you please. I'll
come once more."