from _Durward Bellmont_."

Durward! How that name made 'Lena's heart leap! Was it _her_
Durward--the boy in the cars? She almost hoped not, for somehow the
idea of his writing to Carrie was not a pleasant one. At last
summoning courage, she asked Anna who he was, and was told that he
lived in Louisville with his stepfather, Mr. Graham, and that Carrie
about two months before had met him in Frankfort at Colonel
Douglass's, where she was in the habit of visiting. "Colonel
Douglass," continued Anna, "has got a right nice little girl whose
name is Nellie. Then there's Mabel Ross, a sort of cousin, who lives
with them part of the time. She's an orphan and a great heiress.
You mustn't tell anybody for the world, but I overheard ma say that
she wanted John to marry Mabel, she's so rich--but pshaw! he won't
for she's awful babyish and ugly looking. Captain Atherton is
related to Nellie, and during the holidays she and Mabel are coming
up to spend a week, and I'll bet Durward is coming too. Cad teased
him, and he said may be he would if he didn't go to college this
fall. I'll run down and see."

Soon returning, she brought the news that it was as she had
conjectured. Durward, who was now travelling, was not going to
college until the next fall and at Christmas he was coming to the
country with his cousin.

"Oh, I'm so glad," said Anna. "We'll have a time, for ma'll invite
them here, of course. Cad thinks a heap of Durward, and I want so
bad to see him. Don't you?"

'Lena made no direct reply, for much as she would like to see her