ing across the woods.

When Major Gilcrest came up to the couple, his conduct fully justified
what Abner had been telling Betty. He nodded curtly to the young man,
asked Betty where she had been, and appeared little pleased when she
told him. Then, reminding her that it was getting late and that her
mother would be anxious, he advised her not to linger.

When the three reached the stile, Gilcrest, instead of inviting Abner
in, gave him another cool nod, and with a wave of his hand indicated
that Betty was to enter the house. Abner, however, detained him a
moment to request an interview on the morrow, which Gilcrest
hesitatingly granted, and in a way that boded ill for the lover's
hopes.

At the appointed hour next morning, the young man, screwing up his
courage to the sticking-place, knocked at the door of Oaklands. The
servant ushered him at once into her master's private office. Gilcrest
received his caller with extreme hauteur. Abner at once made known his
business.

Gilcrest heard him through without question or comment. Then, after a
pause, he said, "I have other plans for my daughter, Mr. Dudley."

"But--but--if--if--she herself--" stammered poor Abner, striving to
find the right words for Betty as well as for himself.

"There are no 'buts' nor 'ifs' about it, sir," Gilcrest answered
haughtily. "Betsy will do as I wish. She's at times rather self-willed,
and no doubt has been led away for the moment by some romantic
nonsense; but she's a sensible girl in the main, and knows what's best
for her. If she doesn't, I do, and I'm master of my own household, I
assure you."

"Has she other suitors?" Abner ventured.

"That, sir, if you will permit my saying so, is no affair of yours. She
shall not marry any one against my will, you may be sure; and when she
does marry, it will be a man whose social position and worldly
prospects are such as to preclude all suspicion of his seeking her from
any selfish motives."

"Sir," Abner broke forth hotly, "do you mean to insinuate that I have
self-seeking motives in wishing to marry your daughter?"

"I mean to insinuate nothing, young man."

"But you do, sir; by God, you do insinuate that my love is founded upon
self-interest, and that is something I can not permit."

"Come, come, Mr. Dudley, keep your temper, and don't talk to me about
not permitting. Let your motives be what they may, we will not discuss
that. Suffice it to say, I refuse my consent."

"At least tell