handwriting, and opened the
envelope.

These were the contents:

"I have been waiting and watching for two days, with the patience of a
determined man of set and immutable purpose, to get an opportunity for a
private interview with you. The opportunity has now rewarded my vigilance.
Meet me at once, in the house or out of it."

There was no signature.

Mrs. Force put the note into the fire, saw it blaze and consume in an
instant, and then arose, saying to her guests:

"You will excuse me for a few moments?"

"You bet! I know a housekeeper has got to look after her help, I reckon,
or there'd be fine doings. We weren't plagued with help at Wild Cats'--not
much we weren't! But go along with you now!" said Mrs. Anglesea.

"Is it a bill? I hate bills! 'Specially when I haven't got the money to
pay 'em, though I am descended from the Duke of----"

But Mrs. Force had gone to the door, passed out, closed it behind her, and
was speaking to the man who had brought the note.

"Where is the gentleman who gave you this?"

"It was the colonel, ma'am," replied the man, in a low voice, as if
conscious of naming an objectionable visitor; "and he is standing at the
front door."

"Then bring him into the drawing room," she said, as she passed on and
entered the place first.

She threw herself into a deep-cushioned chair by the fire, and covered her
pale and quivering face with her hands.

A few moments passed, and Anglesea entered, closing the door behind him.

"Well, Friday!" he said, as he advanced and threw himself into a chair
opposite to her at the fireside. "I have been watching the house, from the
top of the hill, with a telescope in my hand, from morning until night for
two days, waiting for a chance to speak to you alone."

"That must have been a great trial for a man of your good appetite and
love of ease," replied the lady, with a curl of her lip.

"Not at all! I came out in a comfortable top buggy, which I drove myself,
and brought a luncheon of cold ham and canvas-back duck and a flask of
brandy. Tied the horse under a tree out of sight of the house, and stood
where I could command a full view of the premises without being seen. All
day yesterday, as long as it was light enough to see, I watched in vain.
No one left the house, except the gallant, gay, young midshipman--the
walking gentleman of this light comedy. So I went back to mine inn late at
night, and much disappointed. This morning I was here very ea