"No," replied the other, "I cannot, with exactness, say that I did. It
would be difficult, indeed, for me to describe the manner in which we
arrived at this most satisfactory conclusion. Miss Raybold is a mistress
of expression, and, without moving a hair's-breadth beyond the lines of
maidenly reserve which always environ her, she made me aware, not only
that I desired to propose marriage to her, but that it would be well for
me to do so. There were objections to this course, which, as an honest
man, I could not refrain from laying before her, and with my proposition I
stated these objections, but they were overruled to my entire
satisfaction, and she consented to become Mrs. Bishop."

"Mrs. Bishop?" said the other, inquiringly.

"Oh yes; Bishop is my name--Henry C. Bishop. It was this name which
suggested the title which was playfully given to me. Before our compact
was made I had told Miss Raybold all about my family. She did not ask me
to do so, but I knew she desired the information, for I had learned to
read those beautiful eyes."

"But," said Mr. Archibald, "how about your position? Did you get the place
as librarian?"

"No," said the other, "I did not ask for it. The question of my vocation
has been settled most admirably. There never was a human being more frank,
more straightforward and pertinent than Miss Raybold. She knows what she
wants, and she makes her plans to get it. With regard to means she is
sufficiently endowed, but the life work to which she has devoted herself
is far more than she can ever accomplish alone. She needs the constant
assistance of a sympathetic and appreciative nature, and that, I am happy
to say, I am able to give to her; and were I to devote myself to any other
calling which would interfere with that assistance, I should be doing her
a positive wrong. Therefore, should I state it in definite words, I should
say that I am to become my wife's private secretary. That is my position,
and it suits me admirably; and I may add that Corona assures me that she
is thoroughly well pleased. We are to be married in the fall, and I hope
it will not be long before we shall have the pleasure of meeting again our
former companions of the hermit camp."

"By-the-way," said Mr. Archibald, as his visitor was about to leave, "tell
me something of Matlack. I had a great liking for our guide."

"All that I can tell you is this," said Mr. Bishop, smiling: "Not long
after we arrived at Sadler's, he went to Peter and asked him if he
intended to send out a camping party to any considerable distance. It so
happened that a couple of gentlemen were going to a point on the very
limits of Sadler's jurisdiction, and with them Matlack petitioned to go,
although another guide had been appointed. I made inquiries, and found
that, for some reason, probably connected with the persistencies of the
female sex, Matlack had become a sort of Daniel Boone and wanted to go
away as far as possible from his kind."

"I hope," said Mr. Archibald, "that our example has not made a real hermit
of him. Good-bye. I am very sorry that Mrs. Archibald is not at home; but
in both our names I wish you and your future wife the best of good
fortunes."

"Father," exclaimed Mrs. Kate, when she heard of this interview, "now you
must grant me one more favor! Here is another pair of lovers who owe
everything to our honey-moon and your wedding-tour. We ought to know them,
for we made them what they are. So let us invite them here, and let them
be married from this house. I do not believe Miss Raybold has a proper
home of her own; and, in any case, the only way they can pay us what they
owe us is to give us the pleasure of seeing them wedded here."

Mr. Archibald rose to his feet. "No, madam!" said he. "I am willing, to a
certain extent, to make this house a source of hymeneal felicity, but I
draw the line at the bishop. I do not intend that my home shall become a
matrimonial factory!"

THE END




By MARIA LOUISE POOL

THE RED-BRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD.
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Miss Pool is one of the most distinctive and powerful of novelists
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By RICHARD HARDING DAVIS

A YEAR FROM A REPORTER'S NOTE-BOOK.
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By LILIAN BELL

THE INSTINCT OF STEP-FATHERHOOD. Stories.

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