ailed his brother, and Dolly
wondering who Gretchen was and how her coming would affect them.

CHAPTER IX.

WHO IS GRETCHEN?

This was the question which Mr. and Mrs. Tracy asked of themselves and
each other many times during the hours which intervened between their
retiring and rising. But speculate as they might they could reach no
satisfactory conclusion, and were obliged to wait for what the morning
and the train might bring. The party had been a success, and Frank felt
that his election to Congress was almost certain; but of what avail
would all this be if he lost his foothold at Tracy Park, as he was sure
to do if a woman appeared upon the scene. Both he and his wife had
outgrown the life of eleven years ago, and could not go back to it
without a struggle, and it is not strange if both wished that the
troublesome brother had remained abroad instead of coming home so
suddenly and disturbing all their plans. They heard him moving in his
room before the clock struck six, and knew he was getting himself in
readiness to meet the dreaded Gretchen. Then, long before the carriage
came round they heard him in the hall opening the windows and admitting
a gust of wind which blew their door open, and when Frank arose to shut
it he saw the top of Arthur's broad-brimmed hat disappearing down the
stairs.

'I believe he is going to walk to the station; he certainly is crazy,'
Frank said to his wife, as they dressed themselves and waited with
feverish impatience for the return of the carriage.

Arthur did walk to the station, which he reached just as the ticket
agent was unlocking the door, and there, with his Spanish cloak wrapped
around him, he stalked up and down the long platform for more than an
hour, for the train was late, and it was nearer eight than seven when it
finally came in sight.

Standing side by side Arthur and John looked anxiously for some one to
alight, but nobody appeared and the expression of Arthur's face was
pitiable as he turned it to John, and said:

'Gretchen did not come. Where do you suppose she is?'

'I am sure I don't know. On the next train, may be,' was John's reply,
at which Arthur caught eagerly.

'Yes, the next train, most likely. We will come and meet it; and now
drive home as fast as you can. This disappointment has brought that heat
to my head, and I must have a bath. But, stop a bit; who is the best
carpenter in town?'

John told him that Belknap was the best, and Burch