hich by
contract went to Colonel Saylor as senior counsel.

He and his wife had spent a pleasant week in New York while he made his
investigation and compromised the State's claim. The day before they
returned home they visited Tiffany's. Mrs. Saylor's love and respect for
her husband were in no sense lessened when he invested three thousand
dollars in two rings, which, though they were flawless gems, could
scarcely be said to adorn his wife's tapering fingers and patrician
hands.

His friends noticed that now, instead of singing his own praises, he
could never say too much in laudation of his wife; and she clung to his
arm and whispered sweet speeches into his ear as a bride of eighteen
might do.

It was noticeable that the Colonel had grown to be adept at showering
compliments upon his superiors and always had pretty speeches for their
wives. On county court day he went out to the cattle market and shook
hands all round with the farmers.

* * * * *

In the spring of 1899, about seven years before Colonel Saylor's
marriage, Cornwall received an invitation to the commencement exercises
of Wellesley and noticed that Mary was named as salutatorian of her
class.

He sent her a set of "The American Poets," gilt-edged in white leather
bindings, and received a note of thanks and an invitation to visit the
Saylor home any time he found it convenient during the summer.

Mary came home the first of June and for a while enjoyed undisturbed the
quiet of the old farmhouse. The neighbors, including Bradley and
Rosamond Clay, were just beginning to call upon her and ask her to their
entertainments when she received and accepted an offer as assistant
teacher of mathematics at Wellesley. The first of September she returned
to the college, stopping for several days in Washington and New York.
The following summer she spent traveling with several girl graduates and
the teacher of French in England, France and Italy. She sent Cornwall a
remarkably fine photograph of herself taken at Rome.

This he framed and kept upon his dresser. His mother, seeing and
admiring the picture, asked;--"Who is the young lady, John?"

"I do not know, but as soon as I can discover her name and domicile, I
propose to propose."

"It certainly is time; you are nearly thirty. I hope to see you married
before I go, John."

"Mother, I know no argument against that ancient and hallowed
institution, and would not advise a