For a moment Cobb stood with a perplexed expression, and gazed intently at her; the name had startled him. She raised her face, and met his gaze, then, blushing, dropped her eyes to the floor. "You do not answer, Mr. Cobb?" she ventured. "Are you displeased at meeting me?" Recovering himself in a moment, he quickly returned: "Pardon me. My thoughts were far away." "Not very complimentary to me," with a merry laugh. "But, then, if you will tell me of whom you were thinking, and her name, for I know it must be a woman, I will forgive your ungallantry," with bewitching naiveté. "Marie Colchis," he slowly answered, with his thoughts still far away. "How funny! almost my own name. Now you have aroused my curiosity. Who is this divinity that can hold your thoughts so enthralled when _I_ am near?" and again she laughed as she emphasized the pronoun. "She was my affianced wife!" The words came as if from the depths of his heart. Marie Colchester saw she had touched a tender chord in his memory. Casting aside all semblance of levity, she approached him and laid her white, small hand upon his arm. "Forgive me," she said; "I did not wish to bring sad memories to your mind." Mollie Craft slyly watched them both, as she stood at the piano, apparently deeply absorbed in the music copy on the stand. "Good! They will be friends," she murmured. Such was the meeting of Junius Cobb and Marie Colchester. CHAPTER XV The month of Finis had passed, and it was Old-Year-Day; to-morrow would be New-Year's-Day, A. D. 2001. In the conservatory, among the roses, geraniums and violets, with scissors and twine in their hands, were Marie and Mollie. As fresh and bright as the flowers about them, they chatted and laughed as they clipped the buds and fashioned the floral pieces which were to grace the private room of the executive mansion on the morrow. New-Year's-Day was a great day, in this new era of time. It was a day upon which all toil ceased, and all hearts were made glad by the exchange of good wishes and good cheer. The President held a great reception from 9 until 11 dial, and after that hour devoted the afternoon to his family and intimate friends. In the evening the day was crowned by a magnificent ball; such had been the custom for years in Washington on New-Year's-Day. With deft fingers, the two girls made the pretty floral pieces: one for papa and mamma; one each for Hugh and Junius; and Lester was to have one--Mollie said two--sent to his hotel. "Well, if you send him two, I shall send another to Hugh," cried Marie, with a pretty, threatening gesture. "Marie Colchester, you are in love!" and Mollie stopped in her work to note the effect of her words. "Oh!" prolonged and low from her companion. "Yes, you are," teasingly. "O Mollie Craft! How can you ever say such a thing?" and the blushes overspread her whole face. "You are a little traitor," with a show of anger.