will hold her by the power of my love
till he finds himself forgotten, and for very shame steals away,
leaving me with the bride he has himself bestowed upon me. He shall
never have Juliet back."

"I doubt if he wishes to," I quietly remarked, as Orrin, weary with
passion, ran from my presence.

I do not know whether Orrin succeeded or not in his attempts to shame
the Colonel from intruding upon his interviews with Juliet. I am only
sure that Orrin's countenance smoothed itself after this day, and that
I heard no more complaints of Juliet's wavering fidelity. I myself do
not believe she has ever wavered. Simply because she ought from every
stand-point of good judgment and taste to have preferred the Colonel
and clung to him, she will continue to cleave to Orrin and make him
the idol of her wayward heart. But it is all a mystery to me and one
that does not make me very happy.

* * * * *

I went up by myself to the new stone house to-day, and found that it
only needs the finishing touches. Twenty workmen or more were there,
and the great front door had just been brought and was leaning against
the walls preparatory to being hung. Being curious to see how they
were progressing within, I climbed up to one of the windows and looked
in, and not satisfied with what I could thus see, made my way into the
house and up the main staircase, which I was surprised to see was
nearly completed.

The sound of the hammer and saw was all about me, and the calling of
orders from above and below interfered much with any sentimental
feelings I might have had. But I was not there to indulge in
sentiment, and so I roamed on from room to room till I suddenly came
upon a sight that drove every consideration of time and place from my
mind, and made me for a moment forgetful of every other sentiment than
admiration. This was nothing less than the glimpse which I obtained in
passing one of the windows, of the Colonel himself down on his knees
on the scaffolding aiding the workmen. So, so, he is not content with
hurrying the work forward by his means and influence, but is lending
the force of his example, and actually handling the plane and saw in
his anxiety not to disappoint Juliet in regard to the day she has
fixed for her marriage.

A week ago I should have told Orrin what I had seen, but I had no
desire to behold the old frowns come back to his face, so I determined
to hold my silence with him. But Juliet