from that man's embrace, and do not make me shudder that I ever
welcomed the Colonel to my dishonored house."

But the Colonel, putting out his hand, said calmly:

"Let her stay; since she has chosen this very honorable gentleman to
be her husband, where better could she stand than by his side?"

Then forcing himself still more to seem impassive, he bowed to Orrin,
and with great suavity remarked: "If she had chosen me to that honor,
as I had every reason to believe she had, it would not have been many
more weeks before I should have welcomed her into a home befitting
her beauty and her ambition. May I ask if you can do as much for her?
Have you a home for your bride in which I may look forward to paying
her the respects which my humble duty to her demands?"

Ah then, Orrin towered proudly, and the pretty Juliet smiled with
something of her old archness.

"Saddle your horse," cried the young lover, "and ride to the east. If
you do not find a wee, fresh nest there, I am no prophet. What! steal
a wife and not have a home to put her in!"

And he laughed till the huge brown rafters above his head seemed to
tremble, so blithe did he feel, and so full of pride at thus daring
the one great man in the town.

But the Colonel did not laugh, nor did he immediately answer. He had
evidently not heard of the little cottage beyond both thicket and
stream, and was consequently greatly disconcerted. But just when we
were all wondering what held him so restrained, and what the words
were which should break the now oppressive silence, he spoke and
said:

"A wee nest is no place for the lady who was to have been my wife. If
you will have patience and wait a month she shall have the home that
has been reared for her. The great stone house would not know any
other mistress, and therefore it shall be hers."

"No, no," Orrin began, aghast at such generosity. But the thoughtless
Juliet, delighted at a prospect which promised her both splendor and
love, uttered such a cry of joy that he stopped abashed and half
angry, and turning upon her, said: "Are you not satisfied with what I
can give you, and must you take presents even from the man you have
affected to despise?"

"But, but, he is so good," babbled out the inconsiderate little thing,
"and--and I do like the great stone house, and we could be so happy in
it, just like a king and queen, if--if--"

She had the grace to stop, perhaps because she saw nothing but rebuke
in the fac