m time to
time. He always says, 'Is she well?' when I get a letter from you;
and about the time I'm looking for your letters he's mighty regular
about getting the mail here.

"That old Akkomi went south when winter set in, and we reckon he'll
be back when the leaves get green. His whole village was drunk for
days on the money you had Mr. Seldon give him, and he wore pink
feathers from some millinery store the last time I saw him. But Mr.
Dan is always patient with him whether he is drunk or sober.

"I guess that's all the news. Lavina sends her respects. And I must
tell you that on Christmas they got some whisky, and all the boys
drank your health--and drank it so often Mr. Dan had to give them a
talking to. They think a heap of you. Yours with affection,

"LORENA JANE HUZZARD.

"P. S.--William McCoy is the name of the stranger I spoke of. The
boys call him Bill."

CHAPTER XXVI.

OVERTON'S WIFE.

A few hours later, 'Tana sat in a box at the theater; for the party she
had suggested had been arranged, and pretty Miss Margaret was radiant over
the evening planned for her, and 'Tana began to enjoy her role of
matchmaker. She had even managed to tell Margaret, in a casual manner,
that Miss Seldon's idea of a decided engagement between herself and Max
had never a very solid foundation, and now had none at all. He was her
good friend--that was all, and she was to leave for Italy in a month.

And Margaret went up to her and kissed her, looking at her with puzzled,
admiring eyes.

"They tried at home to make me think very differently," she said. "But you
are a queer girl, Miss Montana. You have told me this on purpose, and--"

"And I want to hear over in Italy that you are going to make a boy I like
very happy some of these days. Remember, Margaret, you are--or will be--a
millionairess, while he has not more than a comfortable income; and
boys--even when they are in love--can be proud. Will you think of that?"

Margaret only blushed and turned away, but the answer was quite satisfying
to 'Tana, and she felt freer because her determination had been put into
words, and the last bond connecting her with the old life was to be
broken. Ever since the snows had gone, some cord of her heart-string had
been drawing all her thoughts to those Northern hills, and she felt the
only safety was to put the ocean between them and her.

The home Mr