Happy would Hilland have been had he seen the vision reflected by that
mirror--beauty, rich and rare in itself, but enhanced, illumined, and
made divine by the deepest, strongest, purest emotions of the soul.



CHAPTER VII

WARREN HILLAND

The closing scenes of the preceding chapter demand some explanation.
Major St. John had spent part of the preceding summer at a seaside
resort, and his daughter had inevitably attracted not a little
attention. Among those that sought her favor was Warren Hilland, and
in accordance with his nature he had been rather precipitate. He was
ardent, impulsive, and, indulged from earliest childhood, he had been
spoiled in only one respect--when he wanted anything he wanted it with
all his heart and immediately. Miss St. John had seemed to him from
the first a pearl among women. As with Graham, circumstances gave him
the opportunity of seeing her daily, and he speedily succumbed to the
"visitation of that power" to which the strongest must yield. Almost
before the young girl suspected the existence of his passion, he
declared it. She refused him, but he would take no refusal. Having won
from her the admission that he had no favored rival, he lifted his
handsome head with a resolution which she secretly admired, and
declared that only when convinced that he had become hateful to her
would he give up his suit.

He was not a man to become hateful to any woman. His frank nature was