Part 73 (1/2)

Fledra was standing at her father's side, and now for an instant she looked down into the blue eyes through which she saw the yearning heart of her mother. Then she knelt down with Floyd, and they rested their heads in tearful silence under the hands of these dear ones, who trembled with thankfulness.

The last fifteen years flashed as a panorama across the governor's mind.

That day he had discharged his debt to Lon Cronk by placing the squatter where his diseased mind could be treated, and he had insisted that his own name and home should be Katharine's, the same as of yore. It was not until Mildred opened the door and entered hesitantly that he raised his head. Silently he held out his arms and drew his baby girl into them.

Horace's first duty when he returned to Tarrytown was to make Ann as comfortable as he could. She had borne up well under the tragedy, and smiled at him bravely as he left for Vandecar's. The governor met him in the hall and drew him into his library.

”I must speak with you, boy, before--”

”Then I may talk with Fledra?”

The governor hesitated.

”She is so young yet, Horace! I beg of you to wait, won't you? There are many things to be attended to before she can leave her mother and me.

We've only just found her.”

”I must see her, though,” replied Horace stubbornly.

”You shall, if you will promise me--”