largest furniture manufacturing
establishments in the country. He was so absorbed in business pursuits
that he did not relish social affairs much, but his charming wife was
such a dispenser of hospitality that she made up for his deficiency.

Eunice, reputed to be the sole heir to the Seabright millions, was a
girl of great beauty, highly accomplished, and the center of attraction
of any group of which she formed a part.

A valuable tract of land had already been purchased for the
manufacturing establishment and a contract for the construction of the
plant had been let. As soon as a suitable location could be found, Mr.
Seabright was going to erect a mansion in Almaville that would be the
pride of the South. An option had been taken on a piece of property in
the West End that about measured up to the requirements, and the
likelihood was that the residence would be constructed there.

The mere prospect had caused the prices of the property in that
vicinity, already valuable, to soar much higher.

The public soon perceived that the conservative, the reliable
"Columbian," the paper of the Southern aristocracy, was favorably
impressed with the Seabrights as a valuable addition to the commercial
and social life of Almaville, and even the most exclusive circles
prepared to make room for the newcomers.

The Hon. H. G. Volrees sat in his law office with his chair tilted back,
his chestnut brown hair much rumpled upon his large Daniel Webster
looking head. Here was one of the most astute legal minds of the state
and the real head of the Democratic party of the state. He was now
forty-five years old and unmarried. He had never held public office but
was seriously considering entering the race for United States Senator. A
venerable senator was to retire within about three years and the
position could be his if he but indicated a willingness to accept.

The Hon. H. G. Volrees had large ambitions. He was anxious to restore
the old time prestige of the South in the councils of the nation. He was
a well-to-do man but did not have the money to gain an assured social
position at the nation's capital. He fancied he detected the flavor of
ambition in those flattering notices concerning the Seabrights.

"It may be that my hour has come," said Mr. Volrees, picking up the
paper and looking again at the published picture of Eunice. He closed
his desk and went to his hotel.

Mrs. Arabelle Seabright's net had caught its fish. And what h