py nod to Mrs.
Pennypoker, he left her to wipe her eyes unseen, and stole away to tell
the glad news to Louise.

He found her in the parlor, in her old position by the table, too much
absorbed with her dread and sorrow to hear his step, until he was close
at her side. She started up, with the question on her lips; but before
she could speak the words, a glance at his face had told her all. With
one little glad outcry, she seized his outstretched hand; then she
dropped down on the sofa, to hide her face in the pillows and sob like a
little child, in all the fervor of her joy and thankfulness.

The doctor stood waiting by her side, until her first outburst was over;
then, when she had grown more quiet, he bent down beside her, to say
gently,--

"And now, Louise"--

There was no need for many words. For an instant, Louise looked up into
the expectant face above her; then she put her hand in his.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE TRAGEDY OF THE UNEXPECTED.

"Did you get any letters this morning, Wang?" inquired Mrs. Pennypoker,
as the Chinaman came in to remove the dishes from the breakfast table.

"No," replied Wang Kum briefly.

"Not any at all? How very strange!" And Mrs. Pennypoker looked
questioningly at Wang Kum, who returned her gaze with impenetrable
composure. "I thought I should surely hear from brother Nathaniel
to-day. What can have become of the letter!"

"Wang no sabe," answered the Chinaman with an almost imperceptible
shrug.

He turned away to go to the kitchen; but, just as he passed the window
where Louise stood looking out, he contrived to let a fork slip from the
plate in his hand. Louise started at the clatter, and glanced over her
shoulder, to be met by a wink and smirk of infinite cunning, before the
man stooped to pick up the fork, and finally vanished into the outer
room. A moment later she followed him.

"Did you want to speak to me, Wang?" she asked, trying in vain to appear
unusually dignified, as she faced the man who stood chuckling before
her.

But Wang, by no means abashed by her manner, bestowed upon her a second
wink of exceeding craftiness, while he slowly drew a note out from the
loose sleeve of his shapeless blue coat.

"Wang mus' a forgot him; you no tell," he said softly, with a stealthy
glance at the dining-room door behind him, as if expecting to see Mrs.
Pennypoker appear on the threshold and swoop down upon him at any
moment.

Louise glanced at the letter in her hand