ol shots.

"Why, Dora Dundas, of course."

"Who's she?"

"The only daughter of Colonel Dundas, a wealthy man. His wealth, I
suppose, attracted Ormsby. He will show Dick no mercy. You've met Colonel
Dundas. You ought to remember him."

"Oh! the fool who writes to the papers about the war. I know him. What's
the girl like? Is she as great an idiot as her father?"

"You've seen her. I brought her here with me one afternoon to see the
gardens, and she came up and had tea with you. Don't you remember--about
two years ago?"

The old man fingered the tassel of his cap, and chewed it meditatively
for a few moments.

"I remember," he said, at last. "So, she's going to marry Ormsby, because
Dick is supposed to be dead--and disgraced. Well, a sensible girl. Ormsby
is rich. She knew that Dick would have money, lots of it, at my death;
and, when she couldn't have him, she chose the next best man, the
banker's son. Sensible girl, Dora Dundas. The question is--what's Dick
going to do?"

"Father, Dick has behaved nobly, but unfortunately he is ill at home;
and at any moment may be arrested. That's why I want to be prepared to
prevent it. He talks of going abroad--emigrating--when he's strong
enough."

"What!" screamed the old man, in astonishment. "He's not going to stand
up for his honor, my honor, the honor of the family? What's he made of?"

"Father, father, can't you understand? If he speaks, he denounces me, his
mother. Am I not one of the family? Think what my position is. It was as
much for his sake as for John's that I took the money. You wouldn't save
us from ruin. I was driven to desperation, you know I was. It was your
fault, and you must do what is in your power to avert the threatened
disgrace. Father, the bank people cannot possibly prosecute, if you pay
them the seven thousand dollars. I will repay it out of my allowance in
instalments."

There was silence for a few moments, during which the old man surveyed
the situation with a clear mental vision, superior to that of his
daughter.

"And you think Ormsby is going to compound a felony, and at the same time
bring back to the neighborhood a young man in love with his future
wife?"

"If I confessed everything, father, do you think that Ormsby would spare
me, Dick's mother! Oh, it's all a horrible tangle. It's driving me
mad!"

"Ha! ha!" chuckled the old man. "You're beginning to use your brain a
little. You're beginning to realize the value of money--and