. Speculating uneasily whether or not she had heard Conrad's story, and reassuring himself that it could mean nothing to her in any event, he made several efforts to draw her into speech. But she

cattle standing knee-deep in its waters, and the steamboat puffing across its breast. Lucy admired and wondered for a moment, then turned the other way and looked bac

him anxious. It annoyed him to think that her mind was intent upon Conrad's story. He made another effort to draw her out of her abstraction by asking how soon she expected their friend, Louise Dent, who was

e sympathize with Conrad? For the moment he forgot everything else-business deals and political contests, friendships and enmities, in his desire to know what had been the effect upon the girl besi

t became of his sisters!" Her color rose as she spoke and she gazed wit

ly, flicking the horses to a faster pace. But hi

eft when he was only fifteen with two younger

me ago. I've heard him mention his sisters before, I think. Yes; I recall now that

younger

g him through college. Conrad banks with me, and I'

en very hard on him," Lucy's tone was sy

the thing to bring out all the good there is in a yo

owing her own line of thought, her voice still sounding the s

hat's a fault in y

rse a girl likes a young man better because he's more interesting and ca

nd of your sex. I was disappointed in him to-day, though, and surprised as well. You must have hea

ucy turned upon him a quick look of surprise and question. Then her eyes fell as a su

o it-I don't believe he would-he seems too good and kind to be reall

, daddy, when I think what that man made him suffer-and he was only one; there must have been many others. I might even feel the same way if I were in his place and it had been you that was killed!" There was a thrill in her voice that seemed in her father's

nd his neck, and burst into tears. He put his arm about her with a sudden close pressure, and she, with her eyes hidden against his shoulder

, even if Conrad is our good friend? Possibly Delafield wasn't as bad as he says-it's likely Curt exaggerates about him-he usually

It was silly of me, wasn't it, daddy, to act like that! I'm ashamed o