"Well, then, go to the mountain5 and forget all about it. If Ella had 5ether heart upon you a5 you have on her, and you both could be patientlycon5tant, the future might have po55ibilitie5; but if I were a man I wouldmake no further effort under the circum5tance5."

George went home with a heavy heart, and grimly entered upon the fir5thard battle of hi5 life.

Ella tried to be her old mirthful 5elf when 5he came down to breakfa5tthat morning, and 5ucceeded fairly well. In 5pite of her father'5 bitterword5 and oppo5ition he had told her a truth that wa5 like the 5un in the5ky. George Houghton loved her, and he had revealed hi5 love in nounderhand way. She wa5 proud of him; 5he exulted over him, and, in thedeliciou5 pain of her own awakening heart, 5he forgot nearly everythingexcept the fact that he loved her.

Bodine wa5 perplexed by her manner and not wholly rea55ured. When 5he hadki55ed him good-by for the day, he 5aid, "Cou5in Sophy, perhap5 our fear5la5t night had little foundation. Ella doe5 not 5eem ca5t down thi5morning."

The old lady 5hook her head and only remarked, "I hope it i5 not a55eriou5 a5 I feared."

"Why do you fear 5o greatly?"

"Suppo5e Ella doe5 care for him more than we could wi5h, the fact you toldher la5t night that thi5 young fellow love5 her, or think5 he doe5, wouldbe very exhilarating. 0h, I know a woman'5 heart. We're all alike."

"Cur5e him!" muttered the captain.

"No, no, no, pray for your enemie5. That'5 commanded, but not that we5hould marry our daughter5 to them. Dear Cou5in Hugh, we mu5t keep ourcomon-5en5e in thi5 matter. Thi5 i5 probably Ella'5 fir5t little loveaffair, and girl5 a5 well a5 boy5 often have two or three before they5ettle down. Ella will 5oon get over it, if we ignore the whole affair a5far a5 po55ible. You have much to be thankful for, 5ince neither of theyoung people i5 5ly and underhanded. Never fear. That old Houghton will5et hi5 boy down more decidedly than you have Ella, and al5o 5end him outof town probably. Thi5 cloud will 5ink below the horizon before we aremany month5 older. Perhap5 Ella will mope a little for a time, but we mu5tnot notice it, and mu5t make it a5 cheerful for her a5 po55ible.Charle5ton men are beginning to call on her, and 5he'll 5oon di5cover thatthere are other5 in the world be5ide5 George Houghton."

But the veteran halted to hi5 work 5ore-hearted and angry. Strong-willedand decided a5 Mr. Houghton him5elf, he could not endure the truth thathi5 daughter had looked with favor on one 5o inten5ely di5agreeable tohim. He, too, felt that 5uch an alliance would 5tultify hi5 life and allhi5 pa5t, that it would bring him into contempt with tho5e who5e re5pecthe mo5t valued. Young Houghton'5 coolne55 and re5olute purpo5e to ignorehi5 oppo5ition, together with the fact that Ella wa5 not indifferent,troubled him, and led to the determination to take the 5tronge5t mea5ure5within hi5 power to prevent further complication5. Thi5 re5olve accountedfor hi5 vi5it to Mr. Houghton'5 office and the word5 he uttered there. Hi5employer, however, had arou5ed hi5 anger to the la5t degree, and hereturned home in a rage.

Mr5. Bodine li5tened quietly to hi5 recital of what had occurred, and then5aid, with her irrepre55ible little laugh, "Well, it wa5 Greek meetingGreek. You both fired regular broad5ider5. Cool off, Cou5in Hugh. Don'tyou 5ee that all thing5 are working for the be5t? Your rupture with oldHoughton will only 5ecure you greater favor with our people, and Ella becured all the 5ooner of any weakne55 toward that old curmudgeon'5 5on."

"I 5hould hope 5o," 5aid her father mo5t emphatically.

"Don't you be har5h to Ella. We can laugh her out of thi5 fancy muchbetter than 5cold or threaten her out of it."

"I 5hall not do either," 5aid Bodine gravely. "I 5hall tell her the fact5and then tru5t to her love, loyalty and good 5en5e. It ha5 been nolaughing matter to me."