ended the opening night, as, indeed, all Shelby's
friends did, and the verdict was unanimous that never had such a
beautiful and finished play been screened. The scenes of ice-bound
Labrador were picturesque and fascinating, while the plot was ingenious
and thrills plentiful. The audience applauded continuously, for so real
was the acting that it seemed as if the performers were actually there.

Benjamin Crane had helped Shelby finance the production, and he realized
at once that he would get his money back with interest.

"It's a gold mine, boy!" he said to Shelby, as they were all at the
Crane home afterward, "and it must be made into a spoken drama. There's
scope for a great play in that plot."

"Marvelous plot," commented Pennington Wise. "All your own, Mr. Shelby?"

"Yes," Kit replied, with frank pride; "it did turn out well, didn't it?"

"And you're going to make a book of it, too, aren't you?" asked Julie.

"Yes, a book, and a serial story and, oh, I'm going to do lots of things
with it!"

"Grand opera, maybe!" chaffed Julie.

"Why not?" said Shelby, seriously. "Slighter plots than that have been
put into grand opera. It may yet come about."

Without undue conceit Shelby was quite conscious of his great success,
and as he walked home with Carlotta from the Crane house, he begged her
to consent to his repeated proposals of marriage.

"This thing will make me rich, dear," he said, "and while that sounds
mercenary, it does make me glad to have a fortune to offer you."

"But I don't love you, Kit," and Carlotta smiled carelessly at him.

"You will, Carly. You'll have to, 'cause I love you so. Oh, sweetheart,
I love you just desperately-- I must have you, my little girl, I must!"

"Now, Kit, you wouldn't want a wife who didn't care for you as a woman
ought to care for the man she marries. Truly, my heart is still Peter's.
I sometimes think I'll never marry, his memory is so vivid and so dear
to me."

"Weren't you beginning to care for Blair?"

"N-no; not that way. Of course I was fond of Gilbert, and I'm fond of
you, but there's always the thought of Peter between us."

"But, Carly, there's no one you care more for than for me, is there?"

"No, I'm sure of that."

"Then say yes, darling. Even though you won't marry me quite yet, let's
be engaged, and truly you'll soon learn to love me. I'll make you!"

But Carlotta wouldn't consent, and Shelby had to be content with her
promise to think about it.