nd ancient tale than a story of one
of our neighbors. Besides, the fact that a wilful girl ran away from the
house of her father, with the man of her choice, is not such a dreadful
one is it, though she never returned to its walls with her husband, and
her father was so overwhelmed by the shock, he was never seen to smile
again."

"No," said he, giving her a hurried glance of relief, "I only wondered
at the tenacity of old stories to engage the popular ear. I had supposed
even the remembrance of Jacqueline Japha would have been lost in the
long silence that has followed that one disobedient act."

"And so it might, were it not for that closely shut house with the
sinister bar across its chief entrance, inviting curiosity while it
effectually precludes all investigation. With that token ever before our
eyes of a dead man's implacable animosity, who can wonder that we
sometimes ponder over the fate of her who was its object."

"And no intimations of that fate have been ever received in Grotewell.
For all that is known to the contrary, Jacqueline Japha may have
preceded her father to the tomb."

Paula bowed her head, amazed at the gloomy tone in which this emphatic
assertion was made by one whose supposed ignorance she had been
endeavoring to enlighten. "You knew her history before, then," observed
she, "I beg your pardon."

"And it is granted," said he with a sudden throwing off of the shadow
that had enveloped him. "You must not mind my sudden lapses into gloom.
I was never a cheerful man, that is, not since I--since my early youth I
should say. And the shadows which are short at your time of life grow
long and chilly at mine. One thing can illumine them though, and that is
a child's happy smile. You are a child to me; do not deny me a smile,
then, before I go."

"Not one nor a dozen," cried she, giving him her hands in good-bye for
they had arrived at the depot by this time and the sound of the
approaching train was heard in the distance.

"God bless you!" said he, clasping those hands with a father's heartfelt
tenderness. "God bless my little Paula and make her pillow soft till we
meet again!" Then as the train came sweeping up the track, put on his
brightest look and added, "If the fairy-godmother chances to visit you
during my departure, don't hesitate to obey her commands, if you want to
hear the famous organ peal."

"No, no," she cried. And with a final look and smile he stepped upon the
train and in anot