sometimes take place in which all the
conditions are satisfactory.'

"All the time his miniature hung round my neck. Why? Because, in the
bottom of my soul, I still believed him. I had heard him say, So help
me God!'

"He went away, and sometimes returned for a week. I was comforted by
seeing that he did not love your mother, and by the confidence I had that
she would not marry him. I was sure that something would happen to
prevent.

"The year was coming round. One night your mother appeared in my room in
her night-dress; her face was radiant, and she held a note in her hand.
It was from her lover. He had thrown himself upon a ship when her letter
reached him, and here he was close at hand. Full of generous ardor, he
proposed to marry her privately at once; there was no other way, he was
sure.

"'Will you help us?' she said, after she had told me every thing.

"'But you are two such children,' I said.

"'Then you will not help. You will make me marry Colonel Wayne.'

"I tried to see the matter calmly. I sought the succor of God. I do
not say that I did just what I should have done, but I helped them. The
heart is weak, and perhaps I was the more willing to help, because the
fulfillment of her plan would prevent her becoming the wife of Colonel
Wayne. The time was arranged when she was to go away. I was to accompany
her, and she was to be married.

"The lover came. It was a June night; the moon was full. We went quietly
along the avenue. The gate was opened. We were just passing through when
your grandfather and Colonel Wayne suddenly stepped from the shadow of
the wall and the trees.

"Your mother and her lover stood perfectly still. She gave a little cry.
Your grandfather was furious.

"'Go, Sir!' he shrieked at the young man.

"'If your daughter commands it,' he replied.

"Your grandfather seized him involuntarily.

"'Sir, my daughter is the betrothed wife of Colonel Wayne.'

"The young man looked with an incredulous smile at your mother, who had
sunk senseless into my arms, and said, in a low voice,

"'She was mine before she ever saw him.'

"Your grandfather actually hissed at him with contempt.

"'Go--before I strike you!'

"The young man hesitated for a few moments, saw that it was useless to
remain longer at that time, and went.

"The next day Mr. Burt sent for Dr. Peewee.

"The moment I knew what he intended to do I ran to your grandfather and
told him that Colonel Wayne was not a fit