came home he was very
polite and agreeable; he seemed glad to find his wife enjoying herself,
and when Mrs. Potter rose to go, both husband and wife urged her warmly
to come frequently.

"I am going out to my plantation in a day or two," said Mr. Drysdale,
"and I hope you will visit my wife while I am gone, as I am afraid she
may be lonesome."

"Who are you going with?" asked Mrs. Drysdale.

"There is a gentleman from Baltimore, staying at the hotel," replied Mr.
Drysdale, "and he talks of investing some money in land, so I thought I
would take him out to see Bristed's old place next to mine. It is going
to ruin now, but if a man like Mr. Andrews would take it, he could make
it pay. He seems very intelligent and agreeable; I suppose you have met
him, Mrs. Potter?"

"Oh, yes; he was introduced to me the first week I was here," replied
Mrs. Potter. "He seems to me to be a Southern gentleman with a good deal
of real Yankee shrewdness."

"That is my opinion, also," said Mr. Drysdale, "and if he buys
Bristed's place, he will join me in some improvements which are much
needed."

"Well, good afternoon, Mrs. Drysdale," said Mrs. Potter; "I am going out
horseback riding in a day or two, and perhaps I will stop here a few
minutes on my way back."

"Do so, Mrs. Potter; we shall be delighted to see you. Good afternoon."

On Mrs. Potter's return to the hotel, she stayed in the parlor for some
time, and as Mr. Andrews came in soon after, they had a pleasant
_tete-a-tete_ before going to dinner.

The next morning Mr. Andrews went out to get a cabinet-maker to make a
small book-case for his room, and the hotel clerk directed him to the
shop of Mr. Breed. The latter said that he was very busy, indeed, but
that he could get a young man who was boarding with him to do the job.

"Is he a good workman?" asked Mr. Andrews.

"I think he is," replied Breed, "though I am not sure, as he came here
only day before yesterday from Memphis. He has served his time at the
trade, however, and he ought to be able to make a book-case neatly."

"Well, send him over, Mr. Breed, and I will give him a trial. By the
way, who was that gentleman that just passed? I have seen him several
times, but have never met him in society."

"That was Mr. Peter A. Gordon," said Breed. "He boards at the hotel,
also, but he rarely mingles with other men except in business."

"I am surprised at that," Mr. Andrews remarked, "for he appears like a
naturally g