Vance continued his stay in Waterville several days longer than he had at intended. His frequent consultations with Horner Winthrop and Marcus Donald led him to believe they were two of the most honorable men he had ever met. Possibly they were wrong in their judgment about Waterville, but they certainly were sincere. They seemed like men who had been fighting for a goal against bitter odds. The goal was finally reached when the last obligation of the Waterville Town Company had been paid. They were left practically penniless, or at best, with very little money; yet they were content to wait until time should lift then out of the trough of the sea upon the waves of commercial activity again, which they fully believed would come. When Vance started for Gold Bluff, he said he might see them again in a couple of weeks, and again, he might [166] not see them for a year or longer. He was wholly undecided what to do. Arriving at Gold Bluff in the evening, Vance made a hasty toilet and called upon the woman he secretly loved so devotedly. She welcomed him warmly. Soon after, they were seated in the little parlor where Vance had spent so many happy evenings. The Colonel greeted him enthusiastically. 8174 The open grate was crackling and burning cheerily with a bright wood fire, and seemed to add warmth to the welcome extended. “Am delighted to see yo’, Mr. Gilder, I am indeed, still. We have at last reached the 400 foot level. Tempo’ary embarrassments will soon be relegated into antiquity, yes, suh; a few days longer, a few days mo’ of waitin’, suh, and the struggle for a livin’ will be oveh with. No matteh how much we may fight against it, we are bound to be wealthy. Of cou’se it’ll take a few days yet, but only a few.” It was evident that the Colonel was greatly in earnest. It was a welcome hope to Vance. He briefly related to the Colonel and Louise concerning the depression at Waterville, but that he still had hopes that eventually—he did not pretend to say exactly when, but some time in the future—his investment in Waterville town lots would turn out all right. “On gen’al principles,” said Colonel Bonifield, “I am not favo’able to real estate spec’lations. I presume, suh, the reason is I know so vehy little about them, but when [167] it comes to a mine, suh,’.pecially like Gray Rocks, I inva’ably know, suh, what I am talkin’ about. Louise,” said the Colonel, looking at his daughter, “let us have some music. I see Mr. Gilder is vehy tired, and we will talk no mo’ business this evenin’.” Louise opened the piano and sang for them. There was a plaintive sweetness in the girl’s voice that made Vance’s heart pulse with delicious contentment. Hope played back and forth among the chords as the music swelled and surged in sweet, symphonious strains. While she was singing, he felt how easy it would be to declare his love, but when she had ceased, and the last vibrations of music had died away, he knew he lacked the courage.