wants a companion," he said. "She lives in the
South--in Florida. Do you think you would like to go as far away as
that?"

"Yes," said Daisy, mechanically. "I should like to go to the furthest
end of the world. It does not matter much where I go!"

How little she knew where fate was drifting her! Rex had not told her
his home was in Florida; he meant to tell her that on the morning he
was to have met her.

"It will be a long, wearisome journey for you to undertake, still I
feel sure you are brave enough to accomplish it in safety."

"I thank you very much for your confidence in me, sir," said Daisy,
simply.

"Tut, tut, child!" exclaimed the old man, brusquely. "That innocent
little face of yours ought to be a passport to any one's confidence. I
don't think there's any doubt but what you will get on famously with
Maria--that's my sister Mrs. Glenn--but she's got three daughters that
would put an angel's temper on edge. They're my nieces--more's the
pity, for they are regular Tartars. Mrs. Glenn sent for my daughter
Alice to come down there; but, Lord bless you, I wouldn't dare send
her! There would be a raging quarrel before twenty-four hours! My
Alice has got a temper of her own. But, pshaw! I ought not to frighten
you, my dear; they could not help but love _you_."

And thus it was Daisy's fate was unchangeably settled for her.

"There is one thing I would like you to promise me," she said,
timidly, "and that is never to divulge my whereabouts to any one who
might come in search of me. I must remain dead to the world forever; I
shall never take up the old life again. They must believe me dead."

Argument and persuasion alike were useless; and, sorely troubled at
heart, the apothecary reluctantly consented. Poor little Daisy
impulsively caught him by both hands, and gratefully sobbed out her
thanks.

The arrangements were soon completed, and before the gray dawn pierced
the darkness of the eastern sky poor little Daisy was whirling rapidly
away from Elmwood.

The consternation and excitement which prevailed at the Burton Cottage
when Daisy's absence was discovered can better be imagined than
described; or the intense anger of Stanwick upon finding Daisy had
eluded him.

"Checkmated!" he cried, white to the very lips. "But she shall not
escape me; she shall suffer for this freak. I am not a man to be
trifled with. She can not have gone far," he assured himself. "In all
probability she has left Elmwood; but