s peace
undisturbed. Confound the man, anyway! he mused; what had possessed him
to drop down upon them in that manner and rob Ruth of her appetite and
happy talk? No doubt she had been flattered by the interest he had shown
in her; but he was too old and too dignified a gentleman to resort
to flirtation, and anything deeper was out of the question. He must
certainly have a little plain talk with the child this morning, and,
well, he could cry "Ebenezer!" on his departure. With this conclusion,
he softly rose, taking care not to disturb his placidly sleeping wife,
who never dreamed of waking till nine.

Ruth generally waited for him for breakfast, but not seeing her around,
he went in and took a solitary meal. Sauntering out afterward toward the
hotel porch, his hat on, his stick under his are, and busily lighting a
cigar, he was met at the door of the billiard-room by one of the clerks.

"Dr. Kemp left this for you this morning," said he, holding out a small
envelope. A flush rose to the old gentleman's sallow cheek as he took
it.

"Thank you," he said; "I believe I shall come in here for a few
minutes."

He passed by the clerk and seated himself in a deep, cane-bottomed chair
near the window. He fumbled for the cord of his glasses in a slightly
nervous manner, and adjusted them hastily. The missive was addressed to
him, certainly; and with no little wonder he tore it open and read:--

BEACHAM'S Friday morning.

MR. LEVICE:

MY DEAR SIR,--Pardon the hurried nature of this communication, but I
must leave shortly on the in-coming train, having an important operation
to undertake this morning; otherwise I should have liked to prepare you
more fully, but time presses. Simply, then, I love your daughter. I told
her so last night upon the river, and she has made me the proudest and
happiest of men by returning my love. I am well aware what I am asking
of you when I ask her of you to be my wife. You know me personally; you
know my financial standing; I trust to you to remember my failings with
mercy in the knowledge of our great love. Till Monday night, then, I
leave her and my happiness to your consideration and love.

With the greatest respect,

Yours Sincerely,

HERBERT KEMP.

"My God!"

The clerk standing near him in the doorway turned hurriedly.

"Any trouble?" he asked, moving toward him and noticing the ashy pallor
of his face.

The old man's hand closed spasmodically over the paper.

"Nothing