young fortune-hunter like Alden Lytton, and all for the want
of a proper guardian at hand to restrain her. Old Madam Cavendish, they
said, was no better than none at all. And really the Orphans' Court
ought to interfere, etc.

But the very bitterest of the malcontents were parents with marriageable
sons of their own, any one of which might one day have aspired to the
hand of the heiress.

Little cared the happy lovers what their neighbors might think about
their betrothal.

They parted that morning, not with tears, but with bright smiles and
promises of frequent correspondence.

Alden Lytton stopped in Wendover to take leave of his friend, Mr. Lyle,
and to announce the betrothal of Miss Cavendish and himself.

And then, scarcely waiting to receive the congratulations of the
minister, he hurried off to catch his train for Richmond.

An hour after this Mr. Lyle had an interview with Victor Hartman, and
delighted that poor fellow's soul with the announcement of the
betrothal.

And on the same day Mr. Lyle, commissioned by Victor Hartman, went to
Blue Cliff Hall and requested an interview with Madam Cavendish.

The old lady, thinking this was the usual pastoral call from the
minister, sent word for him to come up to her room.

And there she received him alone, and after the usual greetings opened
the conversation herself by informing him of the betrothal of her
granddaughter to Mr. Alden Lytton.

"It was upon that very subject that I came to see you, madam, on the
part of the young gentleman's guardian," replied the minister, and then
and there announced the fact that Mr. Alden Lytton's "guardian" would be
prepared to pay down to his ward one hundred thousand dollars on the day
of his marriage with Miss Cavendish.

"Emma has money enough," said the old lady; "but that indeed is very
liberal. I never could understand about that secret guardian, friend,
patron, or whatever you might call him, of the young Lyttons," she
added, as if she would have liked some information on the subject.

"No, madam, and I am sorry that I am not yet at liberty to tell you more
about him. This, however, I may say, that he is able and willing to keep
his word."

And so that interview ended.

CHAPTER XXIX.

ON TO MEET HIS FATE.

Meanwhile, Alden Lytton sped on toward the city. He traveled by the
express train, which stopped at but few stations.

About two o'clock in the afternoon the train made its longest pause, at