“Doctor Sprague--Mr. Varian and his intended bride. I am to be the best man, and give the bride away,” said the host, genially; and the minister bowed, and opened his book, saying: “I should like two witnesses, please. Perhaps that lady looking out of the window will oblige us.” CHAPTER XIV. PARTED AT THE ALTAR. Doctor Sprague, the minister, had noticed on entering that a tall, stately lady in a long traveling-wrap stood at one of the windows, looking down absently on the busy avenue. It was, in fact, Mrs. Varian, who had arrived but a few minutes ago, and was waiting in the parlor until her room should be made ready. Tortured by a cruel unrest after her interview of the evening before with Everard Dawn, she had decided to leave Idlewild for a few days, until after he went away with his daughter. Her mind was quite easy over the breaking up of the untoward love affair, as Arthur had written her a note earlier in the day, saying he was off on a short trip with a friend, and would wire particulars to-morrow. On learning from Mr. Dawn that he had rejected Arthur’s suit for his daughter’s hand, she guessed readily enough that her boy had gone away to drown his sorrow. She was glad of this, believing that change of scene is a great panacea for hopeless grief. Acting on this idea herself, she determined to make a short journey to Washington, and perhaps New York, in the hope of obliterating from her mind certain painful impressions produced, or, rather, renewed on it by the encounter with Everard Dawn at Idlewild. The man’s face and voice haunted her and brought back memories fraught with pain. To escape them, she had fled from her home that stormy night to seek “respite and nepenthe.” “I would not dig my past Up from its grave of weakness and regret, Up from its hopes that glimmered but to set, Its dreams that did not last.” Absorbed in painful thought, she had not observed the entrance of any one until the raised voice of the minister made her look over her shoulder in cold inquiry: “I shall need two witnesses, please. Perhaps that lady looking out of the window would oblige us.” Then the host advanced toward her, saying, courteously: “Madame, will you honor us by becoming the witness to a ceremony of marriage?” Mrs. Varian inclined her proud, dark head in assent, and moved gracefully forward toward the young couple who stood before the minister, the girl bashful and trembling, the man pale, but with an eager smile on his handsome face. The next moment a startled cry rang on the air. “Arthur!” The young man dropped Cinthia’s hand and looked around. “Mother!” in surprise. “Oh, Arthur! what is the meaning of this strange scene?” she cried, coming up between him and Cinthia. The young man laughed easily, soon getting over his surprise, and answered: