onsoled myself with
money--money--money!"

The old man dragged himself nearer to the edge of the bed, and, reaching
over, tapped his bony fingers on Dora's knee. "Come, now--come--tell me
that you'll think it over, and not marry Ormsby."

"O don't!--don't!" cried the girl, covering her face again, and sobbing
bitterly.

"You can't--you sha'n't marry Ormsby. Dick'll haunt you--and sooner than
you know."

"I've thought of that," sobbed the girl, "and I've tried to conquer it."

"Besides, no man is dead in a war till his body is buried. Get one lover
under ground before you lead the other over his grave."

"You don't mean--you don't mean to suggest that you think there's any
doubt?" cried Dora.

"There's no doubt on one point," chuckled the old man, relapsing into his
usual sardonic manner. "You're not going to marry Ormsby--ha! ha! He
thought he'd do me out of seven thousand dollars--and I've robbed him of
his wife. Good business!"

"You seem to dislike Mr. Ormsby," said Dora, suspiciously.

"Not at all--not at all! Man of business--man of money--no good as a
husband! To some men, money-bags are more beautiful than petticoats. When
you're his wife, he'll leave you at home, and go down to the bank and woo
his real mistress--money!--money! money! But you're not going to marry
Ormsby, are you?"

"No, I can't--I can't!" cried the girl, starting up and pacing the room.
Herresford, with superlative cunning, had struck the right chord. It only
needed a little brusque advice to set her in open revolt.

"Having decided not to marry him," continued the old man "you'll write
him a letter now--at once. There's pen and ink and paper on the desk.
Write now, while your heart rings true; and you can tell him as well, if
you like, that Mr. Herresford will alter his will to-morrow, and leave
all his wealth to you."

Dora turned and faced him in amazement, fearing that his reason was
unhinged. But the strange, quizzical, amused smile with which he surveyed
her expressed so much sanity that she could not fail to respect his
utterances.

"Say that Mr. Herresford makes it a condition that you do not marry
without his consent, and he refuses his consent in so far as Mr. Ormsby
is concerned."

"I can't do that, Mr. Herresford, you know I can't."

"Come here," he said, beckoning her authoritatively. "Have you any
confidence in my judgment of what is best for you? If not, say so."

"I have every confidence in your judgment. Yo