s many business enterprises. On the arrival of Virginia, however, he lifted his finger, and Society stormed at his doors. The great reception rooms were thrown open, the servan

n once displayed some curiosity, when talking to her charge, as to this sudden cha

her in her own more modest apartment, "that I firmly believe your uncle incapable of any

other remarks of the sam

ess person. I do not think that I ever met any one more kind, and he looks i

ughed softly as she roc

fered for him. These men who make great fortunes must make them at the expense of oth

erstand it,"

least. He has climbed up on the bodies of weaker men. But there, in America we blame no one for that. It is the strong man who lives,

g my father an old man, he has sent my brother to college, and has promised, so long as I am with him, to allow them so much money that they have no more anxi

rocking her chair, and look

very strange. Still, I don't see what mot

uspect a motive?"

ay a word against your uncle. He has been nice enough to me because I have promised to look af

, and moved unea

h to think of anything of the sort. My un

Trevor Harrison re

nia n

ly know how, but th

But, after all, what concern was it of hers? She was an old friend of the Duge fam

nd Virginia, slim, elegant, perfectly gowned, looking like a picture, with her pale oval face and wonderful dark grey eyes, was the centre of a good deal of attention. And

a little talk with you. Won't you sit down with me he

re whether she ought to talk to her cousin. Nev

rrassment, "that I am in disgrace with my beloved parent, and that you are half afraid to talk to me. Still, you must

know very well that I have done nothing of the sort. When my uncle

fter I had come back from Europe. I call that a ver

rginia answered. "I find my uncle very eas

la s

nd I am afraid you don't quite understand the sort of man my father is. However, you'll find out,

ouse in a desolate part of the country. I did not know what luxury was. Here I have a ma

la asked calmly, "to pay th

oked at her

he asked. "Wha

ghed a lit

or its own sake. He never befriended any one for any other motive than that some day or other he meant to exact som

y becoming touch of colour had stolen i

her people are even my friends yet, but I cannot listen to you if you talk like this of the

r and patted her

, we shall be friends some day, I dare say

shook h

uncle's permis

ther now and then, especially since my father seems determined to throw open his

d, "except that you deceive

culars?" S

ginia said, "that I

r a moment, and a slight

then, why he sent

irginia

ed her should

t monopolize you any longer

ght it best to tell her uncle of this meeting. They were standing together in one of the reception rooms, waiting for some gues

et Stella this afternoon, an

r without chang

?" he

," Virginia continued. "I was

king to her whenever you may happen to meet. Only remember one thing! She must not enter this

nd," Virgin

r. Norris Vine, have

shook h

ever seen him since that

threshold of this house. It is a hard thing to say of one's own daughter, but those

zled. Phineas Duge hesitated f

lomacy required. One carries always secrets which must not be known, and one does things which it is necessary to conceal for the good of others, as well as for one's own benefit. I have been for some years engaged in operations whose success

d, "almost romantic, lik

smi

id, "would make the modern romance seem stale. Even odd scraps of news or surmises are fought for by the Press. The journalists know