ringly after him, and pointed
him out to strangers as the Hon. Mr. Tracy, of Tracy Park, one of the
finest places in the county. It is true it did not belong to him, but he
had lived there so long that he had come to look upon it as his, while
his neighbors, too, seemed to have forgotten that there was across the
ocean a Mr. Arthur Tracy, who might at any time come home to claim his
own, and demand an account of his brother's stewardship. And it was
this very Arthur Tracy, whose telegram announcing his return from Europe
was read by his brother with mingled feelings of surprise and
consternation.

'Not that everything isn't fair and above-board, and he is welcome to
look into matters as much as he likes,' Frank said over and over to
himself, as he sat stating blankly at the telegram, while the cold
chills ran up and down his back and arms. 'Yes, he can examine all
Colvin's books and he will find them straight as a string, for didn't he
tell me to use what I needed as remuneration for looking after his
property while he was gallivanting over the world; and if he objects
that I have paid myself too much, why, I can at once transfer those
investments in my name to him. No, it is not that which affects me so,
it is the suddenness of the thing, coming without warning and to-night
of all nights, when the house will be full of carousing and champagne.
What will Dolly say! Hysterics of course, if not a sick headache. I
don't believe I can face her till she has had a little time to get over
it. Here, boy, I want, you!' and he rapped at the window at a young lad
who happened to be passing with a basket on his arm. 'I want you to do
an errand for me,' he continued, as the boy entered the office, and,
removing his cap, stood respectfully before him 'Take this telegram to
Mrs. Tracy, and here is a dime for you.'

'Thank you, but I don't care for the money,' the boy said 'I was going
to the park anyway to tell Mrs. Tracy that grandma is sick and can't go
there to-night.'

'Cannot go! Sick! What is the matter?' Mr. Tracy asked, in some dismay,
feeling that here was a fresh cause of trouble and worry for Dolly, as
he designated his wife when off his guard and not on show before his
fashionable friends, to whom she was Dora, or Mrs. Tracy.

'She catched cold yesterday fixing up mother's grave,' the boy replied;
and, as if the mention of that grave had sent Mr. Tracy's thoughts
straying backward to the past, he looked thoughtfully at