Chapter 1

The Evening's Meeting.--Angles of Cross-Purpose.--Sir Donald's
Letter to Oswald.--Paul Committed as a Madman.--Pierre's Odd
Ethical Caprices.--"Do Equity."--Esther Inspects Postmarks
and Consults Ship Schedules.--An Expected Proposal.--A Sad
Home-Coming.--A Northfield Reunion.--Ingenuous Assurance.--Puzzling
Interrogatory.--Wordless Betrothal.--Pierre's Release.--Double
Wedding.--Hopefully "Shadowed."

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
"THE STAR! THE STAR! MOTHER!" _Frontispiece_

"THERE WAS A FLASH OF STEEL, A BLOW AND THRUST,
FOLLOWED BY THE SPLASH OF TWO BODIES" 60

"WITH UPLIFTED HAND THE APPARITION SLOWLY ADVANCED
TOWARD THE COWERING PAUL, AS IF TO
STRIKE" 98

"WHEN WITHIN ABOUT A HALF-MILE, THE FOUR RAISED
THEIR WEAPONS" 149

"RAPTLY GAZING AT THE CHILD'S INNOCENT FACE, PAUL
SOFTLY CROONS SOME CRADLE MELODY" 283

"PO' SICK CHILE! YO' WHITE FACE 'MINDS ME OF MY
OWN MANDY CAR'LINE JUST 'FO' SHE DIED!" 306

"THEN BEHOLDING PIERRE IRONED AND HELPLESS, PAUL
BURST OUT IN A HYSTERICAL LAUGH" 359

"THIS SAGE REPLY IS HEARD BY THE EAVESDROPPING
BESSIE" 407

PREFACE

Though to explain incurs a risk, the author accepts the hazard of a word
in advance.

While the novelist's license has been so used that there is need neither
to resent an innuendo nor to prove an "alibi," yet, substantially, the
incidents narrated occurred within the time stated, and nearly all the
actors are still upon life's "boards."

The conscientious tourist in search of that "beautiful country-seat" and
"wood-fringed lake" is advised to defer his visit. Perhaps the exact
locations are intended to be in doubt. Even that "station" might be hard
to find in an English train schedule.

Geographical accuracy may not be always essential. One noted writer has
told of infatuation for

"An ounce of common, ugly, human dust,"

and declared that--

.... "Places are too much,
Or else too little, for immortal man."

The reader of few or of many books may find "reminders" in these pages.
The author hastens to confess echoings from bygone days, hintings of
vagrant fancies, and whimsical reveries wherein appeared the vague
evasive outlines of half-remembered things.

If keeping that harmless old connoisseur of the "image and
superscription," who insisted on positive "rigor mortis," jailed so long
seem heartless, it should be remembered that some wrongs are more
apparent than real.

The antecedents of that mysterious fair-haired "Find" are still in
doubt, but this signifies little. Child-life is always a miracle more
inscrutable than the resurrection of Lazarus.

The hinted fate of Pierre and Paul Lanier may merit some criticism.
Perhaps summary justice should have been meted out; but in view of all
"extenuating circumstances," may not judgment be suspended? Since
"Eternity is so long," and in deference to that "bias for saving," can
we not allow an "appeal unto Caesar"?

CARSON JAY LEE.