He

immediate reward in order to do his best work. was no plodder, and he found many things to read more fascinating than the law. And yet it seemed to him that if he liked the law as he should his life's work, he would take more pleasure in its study.

Still, his boyish hopes were too much a part of his life for him to tell these devouring doubts even to Pearl. He only answered penitently:

"Yes, dear sister, I will work harder. I will begin soon. I have not so much decision as I should have, I know; but you have so much. Where I have always been supported by my dear mother, you have had to depend upon yourself, and you are strong. I will depend upon you. `I will see your face before me, and it will make me strong."

He felt the magnetic pressure of her hand upon his and thanked God in his heart for the sweet sense of security she gave him. It might have been better for him if he could have analyzed his own emotions, better if he could have seen the light, better if he could have understood the secret of her potent power; but it was to him only a sweet feeling of security in a sister's affectionate sympathy. That this feeling was in any way different with her, he never dreamed. That he, by some power more magnetic than a brother's, might attract and carry the sweet confidence of this innocent soul out upon the ocean of his doubts, the dangerous waters of his wayward course, he never dreamed.

He rose to his feet, and they stood together watching the clouds which were gathering even darker now without. He turned from the dismal scene and looked into her eyes with a brother's fond smile. Then, tak

ing her hands in his, and drawing her closer to him, he pressed his lips to hers. He believed it was as innocent and sacred as a brother's kiss. It would have seemed a sacrilege to her to yield this privilege to another; but by the sacred memory of her father, beneath the tender watchfulness of her angel mother, she raised her lips to his with the sweet innocence of a child.

Mrs. Arkwright took the same deep and absorbing interest in Oliver's account of the discussion which she took in everything which he did. "Let them turn him out!" she said, as he sat on an ottoman by her feet, in his little library. Let them turn him out! Could she not teach? Could he not teach? Did life

depend upon the Labor Bureau? Were they drift

wood? Turn him out!

It was a stagnant life at best, -a barren waste of energy. Now he would study law more zealously and steadily, and he would get admitted soon, and he would leave when they would beg to keep him.

Turn him out!

Change his views to fit the fashion plate? A fashion set by Lanternjaws? The time would come when men who tried to domineer to-day would bow to his ideas. Turn him out!

More daring and true than he had felt for some time, yet still postponing the doubt in his heart about the law, Oliver walked to the little window, and his eyes unconsciously wandered to the remorseless clock in the city tower. He read above the dial the motto: "Carpe diem,"-Seize the day.

With an uneasy movement he turned his eyes toward the great dome pointing skyward, defiant of the clouds that threatened and the winds that raged.

CHAPTER VII.

"Society is like a large piece of frozen water, and skating well is the great art of social life." -LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON.

The newspapers announced that it would be the most brilliant social event of the season; and as Mayor Villars had just added the final kink to his curly hair, there seemed no reason why it should not. His daughter Ilva had recently returned from Europe, where she had been sent immediately after her mother's death; and, as a kind father, Mr. Villars felt that he owed such parties as this to her. Then, too, his deep religious nature told him that it was "not good for man to be alone," and that he owed it to society to be prepared to again bestow his hand and name on some worthy woman who could truly appreciate the honor.

But for more than any other reason, the mayor made this party because of the deep interest he had in Capitol City. It was toward the close of January now; the legislature had but recently convened, and Mr. Villars strongly suspected that at the next session he himself would be called upon to sit as one of the members from Capitol City. Not, of course, that he had any personal ambition; but there was some legislation which he would like to see accomplished, because it would be good for the city.

With this in view, he had recently purchased all the farming land lying along the outskirts of the city, and

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divided it up into lots and large parks. Except the one park in front of the Capitol, there were no other places of public resort in the city. The city should be extended; it should be made more beautiful; the legislature should have enough State pride to appropriate at least a half million dollars to the improving and beautifying of these parks and drives, that visitors to Capitol City might see something here to remind them of the greatness and glory of their State:

Of course it was unfortunate that he owned all the lots adjoining these parks and along these drives, because this would enable the fault-finding to say that he did it all just to put money in his own pocket; but his zeal for the welfare of the city was so intense that he was willing to suffer personal abuse for the public good. Owning the lots himself, it would be easier to get the appropriation from the next legislature. One thing, he would arouse the patriotic interest of the legislature in Capitol City-the great fireside of the State-if he had to give a lot near the park to every member! This session was a good time to make friends, and such receptions were a good way. The invitation list was as nearly unanimous as it could be, including about all the social and political influence in the city.

So far as the reception was in honor of his daughter's return, that young lady accepted it as her due. Flattered all her life, it had become a part of her life; and though her dark face always wore a brilliant flush, it was seldom that any kind of flattery made Ilva blush. Taught by her father that hers was a "charmed life," she always refused to hear about the sufferings of others, it was so disagreeable, and Miss Ilva al

ways made it a plan to shun everything disagreeable. She had never studied much, although she knew a little about theaters and plays, had read some novels and had picked up enough random facts not to seem ignorant. But hard study was disagreeable, and books beyond her depth she declared "stupid." Still she was a woman of much natural energy and brilliance. Without that outlet for this energy which some women find in sympathy, others in books, she had studied. how to be beautiful; and in this school she had been a painstaking student. This narrow but brilliant girl's proud heart had never been touched by the love of any man. She loved all men in a certain way. She enjoyed her influence over them. She liked to provoke their admiration, and then show them of how little importance it was to her. Taught to be unsympathetic, she demanded homage rather than love; and yet by nature she was imaginative and impulsive.

Ilva took a place by her father's side. Graceful and rather tall (she was a few inches taller than her father), of supple movement, with heavy black eyelashes overhanging dazzling black eyes, she needed not the necklace of diamonds to make the picture a striking one. And yet an experienced observer might have seen that for a moment the expression of her face was not that of a woman entirely satisfied with herself and the world. She experienced that half faint feeling which is so often indicative of unsatisfied longing.

But as yet such feeling was only an undercurrent in her life. With the arrival of the first guest, her black eyes, which were at once both radiant and intent, flashed like diamonds.

Oliver, who was still drifting along at the Labor