at the words till the tears came. Then she stood up and looked at
herself in the glass.

"Now, young woman," she said, severely, "be sensible and don't dream
dreams until you are asleep, and to sleep you must go forthwith." But
sleep was slow to come, and strange to say, it was the thought of the
little woman in the next room that quieted her heart and sent her to
sleep, and next day she was looking her best. And when the ceremony was
over, and the guests were assembled at the wedding breakfast, there were
not a few who agreed with Harry when, in his speech, he threw down his
gage as champion for the peerless bridesmaid, whom for the hour--alas,
too short--he was privileged to call his "lady fair." For while Kate
had not the beauty of form and face and the fascination of manner that
turned men's heads and made Maimie the envy of all her set, there was
in her a wholesomeness, a fearless sincerity, a noble dignity, and that
indescribable charm of a true heart that made men trust her and love her
as only good women are loved. At last the brilliant affair was all over,
the rice and old boots were thrown, the farewell words spoken, and tears
shed, and then the aunts came back to the empty and disordered house.

"Well, I am glad for Maimie," said Aunt Frank; "it is a good match."

"Dear Maimie," replied Aunt Murray, with a gentle sigh, "I hope she will
be happy."

"After all it is much better," said Aunt Frank.

"Yes, it is much better," replied Mrs. Murray; and then she added, "How
lovely Kate looked! What a noble girl she is," but she did not explain
even to herself, much less to Aunt Frank, the nexus of her thoughts.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE WEST

The meeting of the share-holders of the British-American Lumber and
Coal Company was, on the whole, a stormy one, for the very best of
reasons--the failure of the company to pay dividends. The annual report
which the president presented showed clearly that there was a slight
increase in expenditure and a considerable falling off in sales, and it
needed but a little mathematical ability to reach the conclusion that
in a comparatively short time the company would be bankrupt. The
share-holders were thoroughly disgusted with the British Columbia end
of the business, and were on the lookout for a victim. Naturally their
choice fell upon the manager. The concern failed to pay. It was the
manager's business to make it pay and the failure must be laid to his
charge. Their conf