from such lovely
lips would have intoxicated any man. Yet from that faithful heart of
his the words did not take one thought that belonged to Daisy; he did
his utmost to forget that sunny, golden memory.

To Pluma, handsome, courtly Rex was an enigma. In her own mind she
liked him all the better because he had not fallen down and worshiped
her at once. Most men did that.

For several moments they walked along in utter silence--until they had
reached the brink of the dark pool, which lay quite at the further end
of the inclosure.

Pluma gave a little shuddering scream:

"I did not mean to bring you here," she cried. "I always avoid this
path; the waters of the pool have always had a great dread for me."

"It should be filled up," said Rex, "or fenced around; it is certainly
a dangerous locality."

"It can not be filled up," she returned, laughingly; "it is said to be
bottomless. I do not like to think of it; come away, Rex."

The magnificent bridal costume, ordered expressly from Paris, had
arrived--perfect even to the last detail. The bride-maids' costumes
were all ready; and to everything in and about the Hall the last
finishing touches had been given.

All the young girls hovered constantly around Pluma, in girl-fashion
admiring the costume, the veil, the wreath, and above all the
radiantly beautiful girl who was to wear them. Even the Glenn girls
and Grace Alden were forced to admit the willful young heiress would
make the most peerless bride they had ever beheld.

Little Birdie alone held aloof, much to Rex's amusement and Pluma's
intense mortification.

"Little children often take such strange freaks," she would say to
Rex, sweetly. "I really believe your little sister intends never to
like me; I can not win one smile from her."

"She is not like other children," he replied, with a strange twinkle
in his eye. "She forms likes and dislikes to people from simply
hearing their name. Of course I agree with you it is not right to do
so, but Birdie has been humored more or less all her life. I think she
will grow to love you in time."

Pluma's lips quivered like the lips of a grieving child.

"I shall try so hard to make her love me, because she is your sister,
Rex."

He clasped the little jeweled hands that lay so confidingly within his
own still closer, saying he knew she could not help but succeed.

The whole country-side was ringing with the coming marriage. No one
could be more popular than hands