onds
in the morning, with a cotton gown;' and he laughed immoderately at what
be thought Dolly's bad taste. 'Take them to her? No! They are yours.'

'But I have mother's,' Jerrie pleaded; 'and I cannot wear two sets.'

'Yes, you can--one to-day, one to-morrow. I mean you shall have
seven--one for everyday in the week. What has Dolly to do with
diamonds. They are for ladies, and she is only a whitewashed one.'

He was very much excited, and it took all Jerrie's tact to soothe and
quiet him.

'Father,' she began and then he stopped short, for the sound of that
name spoken by Jerrie had a mighty power over him--'Father, listen to me
a moment.'

And then she told him of the suspicions cast upon Harold, and said:

'You do not wish him to suffer any more?'

'Harold? The boy who found you in the carpet-bag--Amy's boy! No, never!
Where is he that I have not seen him yet? Does he know you are my
daughter?'

Jerrie had not mentioned Harold before, but she told her father now
where he was, and why he had gone, and that she had written him to come
home, on Maude's account, if on no other.

'Yes--Maude--I remember; but Harold did not care for Maude. Still, he
had better come. I want him here with you and me; and you must stay here
now, day and night. Select any room or rooms you please; all is yours,
my daughter.'

'But I cannot leave grandma,' Jerrie said.

'Let her come, too,' Arthur replied. 'There is room for her.'

'No,' Jerrie persisted; 'that would not be best. Grandma could not live
with Mrs. Tracy.'

'Then let Dolly go at once, I'll give the order now;' and Arthur put out
his hand to the bell-cord.

But Jerrie stopped him instantly, saying to him:

'Remember Maude. While she lives she must stay here.'

'Yes, I forgot Maude. Poor little Maude, I have not seen her yet,'
Arthur replied, subdued at once, and willing now that Jerrie should take
the jewels to Dolly, who deserved but little forbearance from Jerrie's
hand.

Up to the very last Mrs. Tracy had, unconsciously perhaps, clung to a
shadowy hope that Arthur might repudiate his daughter and call it a
trumped-up affair; but when she heard how joyfully he had acknowledged
and claimed her, she lost all hope, and her face wore a sullen, defiant
expression as she walked about the house and through the handsome rooms,
the very furniture of which had nearly all been bought with Arthur's
money, and consequently was not her own. Since the coming of Jerrie,
wh