t Silas Grangerson is in town and I want you to beware of him."

"Silas," said he, "why I saw him at the club, he's gone back home by this,
I expect, at least he said he was going back to-night. Why should I beware
of him?"

"He's such an irresponsible creature," she replied. "I'm going to tell you
something, and mind, what I'm going to tell you is a secret you mustn't
breathe to any one: he's in love with Phyl."

"Silas?"

"Yes. I knew it wouldn't be long before some one was after her. She's the
prettiest girl in Charleston, and she's different from the others
somehow."

The cunning of the woman held her from praise of Phyl's goodness and
mental qualities, or any over praise of the goods she was bringing to his
attention.

"Has he spoken to her about it?" asked he.

"I'm sure to goodness I don't know what I'm about telling you a thing that
was told to me in confidence," said the other. "Well, you promise never to
say a word to Phyl or to any one else if I tell you."

"I promise."

"Well, he's--he's kissed her."

Richard Pinckney leaned forward in his chair. He seemed very much
disturbed in his mind.

"Does she care for him?"

"I don't believe she does--yet. They always begin like that; girls don't
know their minds till all of a sudden they find some man who does."

"Well, let's hope she never cares for Silas Grangerson," said he rising
from his chair. "You know what he is."

He left the room and went out on the piazza where the girl was sitting. He
sat down beside her and they fell into talk.

Richard Pinckney's mind was disturbed.

Only the day before he had proposed to Frances Rhett and had been
accepted. No one knew anything of the engagement; they had decided to say
nothing about it for a while, but just keep it to themselves. The trouble
with Pinckney was that Frances had, so to say, put the words of the
proposal into his mouth. Frances had flirted with every man in Charleston;
out of them all she had chosen Pinckney as a permanent attache, not
because she was in love with him but because he pleased her best. She
matched him against the others, as a woman matches silk.

Pinckney had allowed himself to be led along; there is nothing easier than
to be led along by a pretty woman. When the trap had closed on him he
recognised the fact without resenting it. He was no longer a free man.

Phyl had told him this without speaking. For some time past he had been
admiring her, and yesterday on returni