iences of the previous
day. The hours passed quickly in preparations for departure and in
a call on Mr. and Mrs. Wendall, who gave evidence that they were
becoming more resigned.

"I am at work again," said the farmer, "and so is Nancy. There's
nothing else for us to do but plod toward home, where Tilly is."

Regret was more general and sincere than is usual when the transient
associations of a resort are broken. Dr. Sommers's visage could not
lengthen literally, and yet it approached as nearly to a funereal
aspect as was possible. He brightened up, however, when Madge slipped
something into his hand "for the chapel."

They were soon comfortably established in their new quarters, and in
the late afternoon Madge was so rested that she took a short walk
with Graydon to Sunset Rock, and saw the shadows deepen in the vast,
beautiful Kaaterskill Clove. Then they returned by the ledge path.
At last they entered the wonderful Palenvilie Road, a triumph of
practical engineering, and built by a plain mountaineer, who, from the
base of the mountain to the summit, made his surveys and sloped his
grades by the aid of his eye only. They had been comparatively silent,
and Graydon finally remarked: "It gives me unalloyed pleasure, Madge,
to look upon such scenes with you. There is no need of my pointing out
anything. I feel that you see more than I do, and I understand better
what I do see from the changing expression of your eyes. Don't you
think such unspoken appreciation of the same thing is the basis of
true companionship?"

"Oh, Graydon, what an original thought!"

He bit his lip, and remarked that the evening was growing cool.

At supper and during the evening his vigilance was not rewarded in
the slightest degree. Madge appeared in good spirits, and talked
charmingly, even brilliantly at times, but she was exceedingly
impersonal, and it was now his policy to follow her slightest lead in
everything. He would prove that her wish was his, as far as he knew
it.

"Some day," he thought, "I shall find a clew to her mystery."

The next morning Graydon went to the city, and would not return till
Friday evening of the following week, for it was now his purpose to
resume business. In the evening he and his brother discussed their
affairs, which were beginning to improve all along the line. Then
their talk converged more upon topics connected with this story, and
among them was Mr. Wildmere's suspension.

"His failure don't am