it?"

"Notice what?"

"I don't know why I continue to live with you--you're so dull! In his
excitement, he just called her 'Kay.' Last night, when they met, she was
'Miss Parker.' At noon to-day, she was 'Miss Kay' and now she's plain
'Kay.'" A cloud crossed his brow, but he made no answer, so, woman-like,
she pressed for one. "Suppose our daughter should fall in love with this
young man?"

"That would be more embarrassing than ever, from a business point of
view," he admitted, "and the Lord knows this fellow has me worried enough
already. He's no mean antagonist."

"That's what the panther probably thought, John."

"His decoration, and that stunt--dazzling to the average girl," he
muttered.

"In addition to his good looks, exquisite manners, and, I am quite
certain, very high sense of honor and lofty ideals," she supplemented.

"In that event, it is more than probable that a consideration of his
desperate financial strait will preclude his indicating any lively
interest in Kay." Parker glanced anxiously at his wife, as if seeking in
her face confirmation of a disturbing suspicion. "At least, that would
be in consonance with the high sense of honor and lofty ideals with which
you credit him. However, we must remember that he has a dash of Latin
blood, and my experience has been that not infrequently the Latinos high
sense of honor and lofty idealism are confined to lip-service only. I
wonder if he'd be above using Kay as a gun to point at my head."

"I'm quite certain that he would, John. Even if he should become
interested in her for her own sake, he would, of course, realize that the
genuineness of his feeling would be open to suspicion by--well, most
people, who comprehend his position--and I doubt very much if, under
these circumstances, he will permit himself to become interested in her."

"He may not be able to help himself. Kay gets them all winging."

"Even so, he will not so far forget his ancestral pride as to admit it,
or even give the slightest intimation of it."

"He is a prideful sort of chap. I noticed that. Still, he's not a prig."

"He has pride of race, John. Pride of ancestry, pride of tradition,
pride of an ancient, undisputed leadership in his own community. He has
been raised to know that he is not vulgar or stupid or plebeian; his
character has been very carefully cultivated and developed."

He edged his horse close to hers.

"Look here, my dear," he queried; "what