"It seems to me that I should insist upon proof positive--ay, proof beyond any possibility of doubt--that my first wife was dead ere I contracted a second alliance," remarked Frazier, quite significantly. "Mr. Varrick believes that he has this, I understand," said the minister, gravely. Frazier shrugged his shoulders, turned and looked at the man from under his lowering brows--a look which the minister did not relish. "But, then, Varrick has always believed in second marriages," remarked Frazier, flippantly. The minister started, giving an uncomfortable glance at the other. "I believe the girl to whom he is about to be united is Varrick's first love?" Frazier went on, nonchalantly. "Indeed you are mistaken," retorted his companion earnestly. "I have known Hubert Varrick for long years, and to my certain knowledge he never had a fancy for any of the fair sex previous to the time he met beautiful Miss Northrup. She was his first love. Of that I am quite positive." By this time they had reached the bend in the road hard by the entrance gate. The reverend gentleman could not help but notice that his companion seemed unduly excited over the questions which he had propounded and the answers which he had received thereto, and he felt not a little relieved at bidding him good-afternoon and thanking him for the service which he had rendered him; and he wondered greatly that he excused himself at the entrance gate, instead of accompanying him to the house, if he was as intimate a friend of the family as he claimed to be. The minister proceeded slowly up the wide stone walk, from which the snow had been carefully brushed, with a very thoughtful expression on his face. Mrs. Varrick stood at the drawing-room window, and, noticing his approach, hurriedly rang for a servant to admit him at once. He found himself ushered into the wide corridor before he could even touch the bell. Mrs. Varrick was on the threshold of the drawing-room, waiting to greet him as he stepped forward. "I thought I observed some one with you at the gate?" she said, as she held out her white hand, sparkling with jewels, to welcome him. "Why did you not bring your friend in with you?" The minister bowed low over the extended white hand. "You are very kind to accord me such a privilege," he declared, gratefully; "but the person to whom you allude is an entire stranger to me--a gentleman whom I met by the road-side, and whom I was obliged to call upon for assistance, being suddenly attacked with my old enemy, faintness. I may add, however, that he seemed to have been an acquaintance of the family." "Perhaps he is an acquaintance of my _son_; his friends are so numerous that it is very hard for me to keep track of them," added Mrs. Varrick, asking: "Why did he not come into the house with you?" "He declined, stating no reason," was the reply.