and since he was silent, she did not
think it would be right for her to speak.

But it did not all end as Clifton wished it to end. Miss Langden
returned with her aunt at the close of the year, as had been expected,
but she returned engaged to marry a New York gentleman whom they had met
abroad. She and Clifton had never been engaged. Her father had
forbidden the young man to speak to her till the two years of Mr
Maxwell's waiting were over, and before that time the European trip was
decided on and close at hand.

This meeting and parting at that time had been all that Clifton could
desire, except that she had refused to bind herself by a promise to him,
and her aunt had sustained her in this, as was perhaps right, knowing
all that she knew. Without her promise Clifton had trusted her
entirely, and doubtless she meant to be true to him.

But temptation came in the form of wealth and family and fashion, and
her aunt was at hand to show her the advantages of these things.
Indeed, it must be said the young lady saw them for herself only too
clearly, and was glad that she had no promise to break to secure them.

If there was any comfort in the knowledge that her father was
disappointed and indignant at what she had done without his knowledge or
consent, Clifton had that comfort, but it possibly did not go far to
help him. He said little about it, but it went hard with him for a
while.

However, he did not make his misery an excuse for neglecting his duty.
He was past the age for such folly now and besides, he was too really
interested in his work not to find it a resource in the time of his
trouble, and the changes which his sister had feared might follow such
disappointment, did not come.

"And after all," she said, comforting herself, "he will get over it in
time." Which was perfectly true.

The new dam and the new establishments of various sorts, which followed
its completion, did much for Gershom. That is to say, they increased
the population and the wealth of the place, and made it more than ever
the centre of the surrounding country as to all business transactions.
But it is a question whether it made it a pleasanter place of residence
for any of our friends there. A state of transition from a country
village to a country town of some importance is never pleasant for the
old residents for a time. But progress is to be desired for all that,
and Gershom is now an incorporated town with a mayor and counc