“Circumstances,” said Boast, “indeed, shape the destiny of man. Of this I am more and more convinced. To think of us sitting down together as friends a month ago would have been preposterous, and yet I am happy to know we meet as such to-night. What impelled me to send for you the night you visited me at the hotel, I am unable to explain; an impulse that I was not strong enough to overcome, compelled me to do it. I feel, Mr. Gilder, that I have much to be thankful for in your friendship, and yet it has all been brought about by a circumstance over which I had no control. It was not the result of a premeditated judgment, but the outcome of an impulse.” “I hope,” said Vance, as he reached Boast a cigar and lit one himself, “that you have no regrets in regard to our late friendly understanding.” “No, indeed,” replied Boast, “on the contrary I feel that I am one of the most fortunate men living. By the way,” he continued, “this is an excellent cigar.” “Yes,” replied Vance, “I received a box from one of my New York friends. It is a luxury that I am not able to indulge in very freely, unless some old chum happens to remember my isolation in these Western mountains and takes pity on me.” “Have I told you,” asked Boast, “that I have quit drinking?” “No!” replied Vance, in some surprise. “Yes, I have given up red liquor altogether. The habit got a pretty strong hold on me and I was going down hill at a very rapid pace; indeed, I had quite given up any hope of ever being anything but a hard drinker. Scarcely had I reconciled myself to that belief, than a whim, a caprice, an impulse, or whatever you may call it, took hold of me and said, ‘No more [221] liquor, J. Arthur Boast; not another drop,’ and from that day to this I have not tasted the abominable stuff.” 9229 Vance assured him he was glad to hear of the reformation. “I am in love; desperately so,’.rdquo; said Boast. “In love?” repeated Vance. “Yes, I am in love with my cousin, Bertha Allen, and she reciprocates my own tender affection. On her account, if not for my own, I am indeed glad the red liquor craze has been overcome, and that reminds me of the object of my visit. “Bertha is such [222] a stickler on formalities and so sensitive that I have had hard work to convince her our marriage should take place so soon after her mother’s death. Our arrangements were made to be married the day after to-morrow. Her step-father’s death, of course, complicated matters a little, and she thought we ought to postpone the affair. As usual, however,” continued Boast, “I have convinced her that she is wrong and I am right, and have finally gained her consent, on one condition, that you and Miss Louise will favor us with your presence and act as groomsman and bridesmaid.” Vance was non-plussed at Boast’s remarks, and for a moment did not know what to say.