lling her where you are. Naturally,
Jim, I feel sad not to have my father's support in this matter. But we
shall have his good-will later on, I am sure. In the meantime I am made
unhappy by his present attitude--how can I help it? I know he is
wrong--"

"Gabrielle, you have firmly refused to tell me just what it is your
father has against me. Time and again I have asked, but I cannot learn,
and of course I cannot imagine what his flight to Hoboken was for. He
charges me with some crime--but in heaven's name, what crime? Come,
Gabrielle, do tell me now, won't you?"

"Jim, have I not always told you in reply to your questioning that the
charges made against you by my poor, misguided father and Mr. Hopkins
are too absurd to repeat? If I should tell you now, it would only prove
my father to be a hot-headed man, one who is so easily misled by those
who arouse his fears. Let it all rest with my statement that his
position is taken because of those absurd conclusions. Then it will not
be necessary for me to make my dear father appear ridiculous."

"I shan't think that," said Jim, softly. It appeared that he could say
or do nothing to extricate himself from the work of the plotters, whose
shadows disappeared as he drew nigh. "But if you would only give me, the
accused, a chance to make a defense, I could incidentally prove Hopkins
innocent and have him at our wedding. That I should like to do. It pains
me more than I can tell to ignore that poor chap. I often wonder where
he is, and think myself a coward and an inhuman scoundrel not to make an
effort to find him."

"Why do you bother about him, Jim? Didn't the nurse hurry us from the
hospital that day because she said Mr. Hopkins had told her you were a
rogue? Don't you see that both father and he have been impressed by the
story of those villainous detectives, who would do anything for money?"

"Well, Gabrielle, tell me what those detectives have told your father
about me. He has told you, has he not? Have these charges raised no
suspicion in your mind against me? Are you not anxious to question me?
How proud, then, I am to have won the heart of such a grand little
woman!"

Before he could wait for replies to his questions the burly invalid
clutched his chair, rose to his feet and stretching out his arms
gathered up his treasure of loyalty and fondly caressed her. "How
fortunate for me," he continued, "that your heart has not been poisoned
against me! How priceless this