religious. But bless my soul, Dic, I don't want to preach." He leaned
forward looking into the fire, took his pipe from his mouth and, as
usual, hummed Maxwelton's braes.

"If Rita were a different girl, my task would be easier," observed Dic.
"She is too tender-hearted and affectionate to see faults in any one who
is near to her. Notwithstanding her mother's cruelty and hypocrisy, Rita
loves her passionately and believes she is the best and greatest of
women. She stands in fear of her, too, and when the diabolical old fiend
quotes Scripture, no matter how irrelevantly, or has heart trouble, the
girl loses self-control and would give up her life if her mother wanted
it. Rita is a coward, too; but that is a sweet fault in a woman, and I
would not have her different in any respect. I believe Mrs. Bays has
greater respect for me since I lent the money. I could see the good
effect immediately."

"Her respect would not have been so perceptible had you taken a note
payable in one or two years. Hold that demand note as a club over the
old woman, and perhaps you will get the girl."

"Was that your reason for advising me to take the note payable on
demand?" asked Dic.

"It was one of my reasons--perhaps the chief one."

"Then I'll write to Mr. Bays asking him to draw a new note payable in
two years," said Dic.

Billy took a small piece of paper, wrote a line or two, and handed it to
Dic, saying:--

"Sign this and deliver it to Williams when you take Bays's note due in
two years."

The slip read, "Pay on demand to Roger Williams, Esq., one Rita Bays."

Dic laughed nervously, and said: "I guess you're right, as usual. After
all, it is a shame that I should take her to my poor log-cabin when she
might have a mansion in Boston and all that money can buy. If I were an
unselfish man, I should release my claims to her." A silence of several
moments ensued, during which Billy drew the leather trunk from under the
bed and took a fresh letter from the musty package we have already
seen. He drew his chair near to the candle, slipped the letter from its
envelope, and slowly read its four pages to himself. After gazing at the
fire for several minutes in meditation he said:--

"I received a Christmas gift, Dic. It came from England. I got it this
morning. It is the miniature of an old friend. I have not seen or heard
from her in thirty years. I also have a letter. If you wish, you may be
the only person in all the world, save my