"Yes, I know. For you have told me that your father has taken a dislike to me in particular, and against all army officers as suitors for your hand in general. But he can find no cause to be prejudiced against me--at least, none that I am aware of," looking into her eyes inquiringly. "No, Lester," quickly returned the girl, "he can certainly find no stain upon your character, else his daughter would not have entered here to-night to meet you." This with a proud knowledge that, wrong as she was in disobeying her father's wishes, she was conscious of the nobleness of her lover's character. "'Tis the old story, Lester," she continued, after a moment--"a father's ambition. Papa _is_ ambitious, but his ambition no longer centers in himself, but in his children. Reaching, as he has, to the highest position within the gift of the nation, he hopes to see his children, when he descends from his station, still moving onward and upward toward renown, popularity, and--and--O Lester, I hate to say it--wealth." She hung her head as if ashamed to confess that her father for a moment considered pecuniary matters in connection with the disposal of her hand. Taking her hand in his, he calmly said: "Mollie, I blame him not. 'Tis a father's first duty to seek the welfare of his children. But, darling," drawing her toward him, "though I have not wealth, yet have I my pay as a Captain in the army, a sum sufficient to enable me to provide a cozy, happy home for us. Do you not think it would be cozy and happy?" looking tenderly into her eyes, which had been raised and turned upon him as he spoke. "Ah, Lester, to me, yes," she returned, petting the hand that held hers. "I am your promised wife, Lester--promised by me, but not by my father. Let us hope, dearest, that time will make some change in his determination to find a suitor of greater wealth; he could _not_ find one more noble," blushing sweetly at the confession. Lester Hathaway drew her closer to him, and kissed her rich, red lips in appreciation of her kind and loving words. "We will hope," he said, as she modestly drew away. "I dislike, dearest, as much as you, to have our meetings clandestine, but I could not live throughout the day without at least a moment of your sweet society. You do not blame me, Mollie, do you?" lovingly pressing the hand that lay in his. "Of course not, Lester, if you say so; for I believe you to be the very soul of truth," she returned, smiling archly. "And when I avow that no fairer woman ever lived, that my heart beats but in love for you, that I adore you, Mollie, you believe me sincere, do you not, dearest?" and his arm stole gently about her slender waist, drawing her unresisting form closer to his heart. "Lester, my own, I do; and your love is reciprocated with all the depth of my heart." She spoke with truth and pathos. Raising her face to his, he looked into her eyes.