Scarcely had the last words left his lips when a heavy tread upon the piazza and a loud ringing of the bell startled us, for it was not often that we were favored with visitors on such a night as this. Zillah, the colored girl, hastened to the door where she found a stranger, who, stepping into the hall, asked, “if Miss Rosa Lee lived there.” Starting from my chair, I turned very white, for I recognized the voice of _Dr. Clayton_, who the next moment stood before me! I forgot the past—forgot that he had been my lover—forgot that Richard Delafield’s eyes were upon me—forgot every thing except that he had come from dear New England—had breathed the air of my native hills—had heard the sound of my mother’s voice—and had brought me undoubtedly tidings of that mother’s welfare. Springing forward with a cry of joy I took his extended hand, nor shrank away when, with unwonted tenderness, he stooped to kiss my lips, low whispering as he did so, “_Dear Rosa_.” Then, indeed, I blushed, for I knew he had no right to call me thus, but the next moment it was forgotten, and with something of pride in my manner, I presented him to Mrs. Lansing and Mr. Delafield, the latter of whom greeted him rather coldly, and after a few words of common courtesy, bade us good night, but not until he had learned what, until that moment, was news to me, viz. that Dell Clayton had been dead nearly six months! As he passed me on his way out, he said so low that no one else could hear him, “Fare thee well, oh, Laughing Water,” referring to the line he had last read. There was a deep scowl upon his dark face, and as I gazed upon him, I could not help wondering if it were thus the old man looked, when from his lonely wigwam door he watched the departing footsteps of his daughter. “Come again to-morrow, uncle Dick,” said little Jessie, following him into the hall; but he made her no answer, save his accustomed good-bye kiss, and I soon heard his heavy tread as he strode down the winding walk and out into the open field, muttering to himself, as I afterwards learned: “And she will follow where he leads her, Leaving all things for the stranger.”