ice, from out the
summer house.

An instant I could not locate the sound nor distinguish it clearly; then
a sentence cut the air so distinctly that I recognized the speaker.
Grant! What was he doing here? Had we delayed too long? Had Fagin's
pursuers returned? If so, why was he there in the summer house, and with
whom was he conversing? I crouched back listening, afraid to move.

"I saw the gleam of your white skirt as I rounded the house," he
exclaimed. "By Gad, I thought the horse was going to bolt with me. Fine
bit of luck this, finding you out here alone. What's going on out
yonder?"

"There was an attack on the horse guard, and Mr. Seldon is in pursuit.
But how does it happen you have returned alone? Has anything occurred to
my father?"

I judged from the sound that he seated himself before answering, and
there was a hesitancy sufficiently noticeable, so as to cause the girl to
ask anxiously:

"He has not been injured?"

"Who, the Colonel!" with a short laugh. "No fear of that while pursuing
those fellows; they ride too fast, and are scattered by now all the way
from here to the Atlantic. Probably a squad of the same gang out there
fighting Seldon. Trouble with the Colonel is he takes the affair too
seriously; imagines he is actually on the trail, and proposes to remain
out all night. I became tired of such foolishness and rode back."

"You mean you left? Deserted?"

"Oh, hardly that," lazily. "You see I was sent out with a detachment to
ride down the Lewiston road. I merely left my sergeant in command and
turned my horse's head this way. I can be back by morning, and I wanted
to see you."

"To see me, Captain Grant! You disobeyed my father's orders to ride back
and see me? I hardly appreciate the honor."

"Oh, I suppose not," his tone grown suddenly bitter. "But I am here just
the same, and propose carrying out my intention. What do you think I am
made of--wood? You treat me as though I possessed no feelings to be hurt.
See here, Claire, don't draw away from me like that. What has got into
you lately? You have led me a merry chase all winter in Philadelphia, but
now you have even dared to flaunt me to my face, and in the presence of
your father. Do you suppose I am the kind to stand for that? What is the
matter, girl? Who has come between us? Is it that rascally rebel? No; you
stay where you are, and answer me. That is what I came back alone for, to
find out."

She was upon her feet, and I could eve