d not turn, so he stepped around in front. Into her cheeks had
come a sudden color, and in her eyes he saw the light that lifts a lover
to the highest heaven.

It was Pat's cry of joy and his impulsive and somewhat violent embrace
of this lady that awakened the dog reposing by the door. Looking in the
direction of the voice Solomon seemed to see but a single figure. This
was a natural mistake. In another moment, however, he realized that
extraordinary things were happening,--that these two distinct and
separate beings with a single outline signified some momentous change in
human life. Whether from an over-mastering sympathy, from envy,
delicacy, or disgust, Solomon looked the other way. Then, thoughtfully,
with drooping head, he walked slowly out and left the lovers to
themselves.

[Illustration]

X

TRAPPING A QUAIL

Happy were the days that followed. Pats, uplifted with his own joy,
became a lavish dispenser of cheerfulness and folly. Elinor, with
unclouded eyes and a warmer color in her cheeks, seemed to have drifted
into the Harbor of Serenity. Both were at peace with creation.

In pleasant weather they strolled among the pines, worked in the little
garden behind the house, fished, played upon the beach, or explored the
neighborhood. When it rained, which was seldom, they cleaned up the
house, read books and old letters, ransacking trunks and drawers trying
to discover the secret of the departed owner. But in vain. The departed
owner had been careful to leave no clew to his identity or of his reason
for abiding there. They did find, however, between the leaves of a book,
a little chart of the point done by his own hand apparently, and beneath
it was written

La Pointe de Lory.

So they felt they had learned the name of the place, but whether it was
the official name or one given by the old gentleman for his private use
they could not discover.

"There is a town of St. Lory in the south of France," said Pats. "I knew
a man who came from there. Perhaps our host was from that vicinity."

The days went by and no sail appeared. This, however, was of slight
importance. In fact, during that first ecstatic period, nothing was
important,--that is, nothing like a ship. It was during this period they
forgot to keep tally of time, and they either lost or gained a day, they
knew not which--nor cared.

All days were good, whatever the weather. Time never dragged. With a
companion