own way." Again Mrs. Chapman resumed her chair, and became thoughtful
and silent.

"You know I love to please you, mother, for you are such a good mother
to me in everything else," rejoined Mattie, kneeling beside her mother,
placing her arms on her knees, and looking up lovingly in her face. "You
know I like to please you, mother," she repeated; "and I won't marry
anybody until Tite comes home. But then you must not say anything more
to me about Mr. Gusher."

"That's poor consolation--very poor consolation, my daughter," replied
Mrs. Chapman, rebukingly. "Exactly what I did'nt want you to promise.
Then you have promised yourself to the young man? I'd never have got
your father if I'd made such a promise to such a young man. I have
always looked forward to the time when we should have a fine house on
the Battery, and move in the higher circles."

Chapman now entered the room, which put an end to the conversation
between Mattie and her mother. Chapman smiled for once, and was
evidently in a pleasant mood. After rubbing his hands and taking a seat
by the fire, and looking first at Mattie and then at her mother, he
said: "I have good news to tell you. The storm has prevented Gusher from
getting here to-night. But the Kidd Discovery Company matter is settled,
and will be a great success. No need of inventing a new religion now.
Hanz has got his head full of the project. Has made all his Dutch
neighbors believe there is a fortune in it for them all. We go on an
expedition up the river to-morrow night, in search of the d----l's
sounding-rock. That's the place where Kidd buried his treasure, you see.
These honest old Dutchmen firmly believe that Kidd had an understanding
with the devil when he buried it there. Just show them how to start an