rd he said nothing. That young man had so ingratiated himself into
his uncle's good opinion, as to be nearly master of the situation. He
wrote and answered most of the Colonel's letters, collected his rents,
and looked after his business generally, and did it so well that the
Colonel was beginning to feel that he could not get on without him, and
to have serious thoughts of making it worth his while to stay
indefinitely.

Nothing could have been further from Howard's wishes than going out so
late at night, and in such a storm, but the one unselfish passion of his
life was his attachment to Jack Harcourt. He was not very well pleased
with the wetting he got, as his umbrella was turned inside out; nor at
all interested in the girl asking so timidly for Mrs. Biggs, and in his
pleasure at meeting Jack he forgot her entirely, until the same flash of
lightning which showed her the two men showed them her white face, with
an appealing expression on it which Jack never passed by, whether it
were matron or maid who needed his help. Who the drooping little figure
was, with the water running down her jacket and off her hat in streams,
he had no idea from the glimpse he had of her features as the lightning
played over them for a moment. That she was in trouble was evident, and
in return to Howard's greeting, he said, "This is a corker of a storm,
and no mistake, and I do believe I am wet through, but,--" and he spoke
a little lower,--"there's a girl here near us,--alone, too, I do
believe."

"Yes, I know," Howard replied. "The station master will see to her. Come
on to the carriage. The horses are plunging like mad. Sam can't hold
them much longer."

He moved away, but Jack stood still, for a second flash of lightning had
shown him Eloise's face again. It was very pale, and tears, as well as
rain, were on her cheeks.

"Can I do anything for you?" he said, opening his umbrella, and holding
it over her.

His voice was that of a friend, and Eloise recognized it as such, and
answered, "I don't know. I am a stranger. I want to go to Mrs. Biggs's.
Do you know where she lives?"

"I am a stranger, too, and have never heard of Mrs. Biggs," Jack
replied; "but the station agent will know. He ought to be here. Hallo!
you, sir! Why are you not attending to your business? Here is a young
lady," he called out, as the agent at last appeared coming slowly toward
them, holding a lantern with one hand, and his cap on with the other.

"I didn