return only after a long, long wrestle with
the wholesalers in blasted reputations, who so showily presented designs
for a disgraced suitor that pleased him greatly. He had placed an order
with these architects of infamous character to build one according to
the plans and specifications presented, and as the construction work
progressed there were extras, extras, extras! Gabrielle knew of these
and never murmured. To her father's urgings, she guardedly replied:

"My dear father, I know my heart and I know yours. Some day you, too,
will reach the truth and we shall again be happy."

There was no mystery in this situation for Gabrielle Tescheron, as I
have stated. She would not tolerate it. At the time her father and
myself were confused, she was sure of herself. He thought of his family,
and I of my reputation, whose spots had never been advertised. Gabrielle
thought only of Jim.

Gabrielle could not be swayed from her devotion to the man whose simple
ways and sturdy honor made their silent appeal to her. He was nobody's
ideal man but hers, perhaps, and people who knew them wondered what she
saw in him to match her ambitions. Well, there was her wisdom coming to
the surface again in a way to confuse those who would have managed her
affairs differently. Gabrielle had a firm faith in herself. Jim was the
complementary type of man; he approached her with qualifications that
met all the practical conditions the careful father had a right to
demand, prompted by his love for his child--at least, this was true
according to her conception--and beyond that the father could not enter
to live her life for her. She was at once convinced of her father's
folly and paid no further heed to his objections. She gave full liberty
to others, and firmly but not excitedly demanded it for herself. This
was a manifestation of love's controlling power in the stress of storm
that I, as a theorist, knew not, but having gained the wisdom through
the course it prescribes in the school--I might say the _Correspondence_
School of Hard Knocks, I think I am now qualified to have my name in the
catalogue, if not as a member of the faculty, then as janitor--for no
man was ever more ready than I to eat humble pie.

Gabrielle Tescheron was a graduate of Vassar. When only twenty she had
her degree and an ambition to progress farther in knowledge by direct
contact with the world of business. The opportunity came on her
Commencement Day, when John MacDonald