g; and he knew why his voice was a little thick.

"Well, if you weren't such a good old blind Dad you'd have seen long
ago the way Mr. Radford Chase ran round after me. At first it was only
annoying, and I did not want to add to your worries. But these two
weeks you've been gone I've been more than annoyed. After that time I
struck Mr. Chase with my quirt he made all possible efforts to meet me.
He did meet me wherever I went. He sent me letters till I got tired of
sending them back.

"When you left home on your trips I don't know that he grew bolder, but
he had more opportunity. I couldn't stay in the house all the time.
There were mama's errands and sick people and my Sunday school, and
what not. Mr. Chase waylaid me every time I went out. If he works any
more I don't know when, unless it's when I'm asleep. He followed me
until it was less embarassing for me to let him walk with me and talk
his head off. He made love to me. He begged me to marry him. I told
him I was already in love and engaged to be married. He said that
didn't make any difference. Then I called him a fool.

"Next time he saw me he said he must explain. He meant I was being
true to a man who, everybody on the border knew, had been lost in the
desert. That--that hurt. Maybe--maybe it's true. Sometimes it seems
terribly true. Since then, of course, I have stayed in the house to
avoid being hurt again.

"But, Dad, a little thing like a girl sticking close to her mother and
room doesn't stop Mr. Chase. I think he's crazy. Anyway, he's a most
persistent fool. I want to be charitable, because the man swears he
loves me, and maybe he does, but he is making me nervous. I don't
sleep. I'm afraid to be in my room at night. I've gone to mother's
room. He's always hanging round. Bold! Why, that isn't the thing to
call Mr. Chase. He's absolutely without a sense of decency. He bribes
our servants. He comes into our patio. Think of that! He makes the
most ridiculous excuses. He bothers mother to death. I feel like a
poor little rabbit holed by a hound. And I daren't peep out."

Somehow the thing struck Belding as funny, and he laughed. He had not
had a laugh for so long that it made him feel good. He stopped only at
sight of Nell's surprise and pain. Then he put his arms round her.

"Never mind, dear. I'm an old bear. But it tickled me, I guess. I
sure hope Mr. Radford Chase has got it bad... Nell, it's only the old
story. T