insistent suitor. And Curly was now a prisoner at Glen West! She
shuddered as she recalled the look on his face when he saw her and
Reynolds together. And his language! She could not get the terrible
words out of her mind. The meaning of some she did not know, never
having heard them before, but she fully realised that they must be very
bad, or else Curly would not have used them in his rage. And should he
now escape, there was no telling what his revengeful spirit might lead
him to do, either to herself, or to him who was now beginning to mean
so much to her.

Thinking thus, she reached the house, and as soon as she entered she
knew that her father was at home, for the door of his private room was
open. He was seated at his desk when he turned and saw her. Springing
to his feet, he caught her in his arms, kissed her on both cheeks, and
then holding her at the full length of his powerful arms, he looked
eagerly and lovingly upon her now flushed and excited face.

"Why, you are getting better looking every day," he declared. "Just
like your dear mother at her age. My, my, how the time has gone! and
it seems but yesterday that I first met her. But, there, there, I must
not give way to such feelings on this my first night home. Come, sit
by my side and tell me all about yourself, and how things are going at
Glen West."

For the first time in her young life Glen was sorry that her father had
come home. She was really more than sorry, for a nameless fear
possessed her heart, which restrained her usual free and happy manner.
Her father's keen intuition noted this, and that her words seemed
forced. Her enthusiasm over his arrival was not so hearty and natural
as formerly, and he wondered why.