k admiration.

"You are the cynosure of all eyes," he declared. "I suppose I'm an
object of envy to every young fellow in town."

Graciella blushed and bridled with pleasure. "I am not interested in
the young men of Clarendon," she replied loftily; "they are not worth
the trouble."

"Not even--Ben?" asked the colonel slyly.

"Oh," she replied, with studied indifference, "Mr. Dudley is really a
cousin, and only a friend. He comes to see the family."

The colonel's attentions could have but one meaning, and it was
important to disabuse his mind concerning Ben. Nor was she the only
one in the family who entertained that thought. Of late her
grandmother had often addressed her in an unusual way, more as a woman
than as a child; and, only the night before, had retold the old story
of her own sister Mary, who, many years before, had married a man of
fifty. He had worshipped her, and had died, after a decent interval,
leaving her a large fortune. From which the old lady had deduced that,
on the whole, it was better to be an old man's darling than a young
man's slave. She had made no application of the story, but Graciella
was astute enough to draw her own conclusions.

Her Aunt Laura, too, had been unusually kind; she had done up the
white gown twice a week, had trimmed her hat for her, and had worn
old gloves that she might buy her niece a new pair. And her aunt had
looked at her wistfully and remarked, with a sigh, that youth was a
glorious season and beauty a great responsibility. Poor dear, good old
Aunt Laura! When the expected happened, she would be very kind to Aunt
Laura, and repay her, so far as possible, for all her care and
sacrifice.

_Fifteen_

It was only a short time after his visit to the Excelsior Mills that
Colonel French noticed a falling off in the progress made by his
lawyer, Judge Bullard, in procuring the signatures of those interested
in the old mill site, and after the passing of several weeks he began
to suspect that some adverse influence was at work. This suspicion was
confirmed when Judge Bullard told him one day, with some
embarrassment, that he could no longer act for him in the matter.

"I'm right sorry, Colonel," he said. "I should like to help you put
the thing through, but I simply can't afford it. Other clients, whose
business I have transacted for years, and to whom I am under heavy
obligations, have intimated that they would consider any further
activity of mine in your