wonderful, though, that my daughter should have been by his side when
he died. That is some comfort, at any rate."

"But you have his son with you now," Jean replied.

"His son! What do you mean?"

"Just what I said. Dane is the only son of your old friend."

Jean never forgot the expression of astonishment upon her father's face
at these words. He looked from one to the other to be sure that he was
not being deceived.

"It is true, daddy," Jean smilingly told him. "Dane is really Thomas
Norman's son, so his name is not 'Norwood' at all. Won't you believe
me?"

"Yes, I believe you, dear, but I am greatly confused over what I have
just heard. Why didn't you tell me this sooner? Did you know of this
before you were stolen away?"

"Why, no. I only learned of it after I met Mr. Norman. But on our way
down river Dane and I planned that we would keep this surprise until
the last."

"I see, I see," the Colonel mused. "It is good of you. But, dear me,
how wonderful everything has happened! Why didn't you tell me about
your father?" he asked, turning to the courier. "You remember our
conversation out in the hills the day you saved me from the moose. Why
didn't you tell me then about your father?"

"For the same reason why I would not tell Major Studholme at Fort Howe
when he asked me," Dane replied.

"And what was that?"

"I would not betray my father."

"Even though he was a rebel?"

"He was my father, remember, and I never forgot that, even though he
drove me away from home. And more than that, for my mother's sake I
could not betray him."

Dane ceased, and gazed thoughtfully into the fire. The Colonel was
deeply stirred. Impulsively he reached out and seized Dane by the hand.

"Young man," he began, "I honour you more than words can express. You
did what was right, and I should have done the same. I was a fool for
doubting you, as I did that day in the hills. As the son of my old
friends, Thomas Norman and his noble wife, I now take you to my heart
and home, and have no hesitation in giving to you her who is dearer to
me than life."

He then took Jean's hand and placed it where his own had been, and
clasped them together.

"May God bless you both," he said, "and may you be true to each other."

"We shall," Dane fervently declared, "while the grass grows, the sun
shines, and the water flows."

CHAPTER XXXIII

SEEDS OF EMPIRE

Supper was ready and waiting in a cosy room i