He crossed hurriedly over to Madison Street, and took the first car downtown. Going directly to the Palmer House, he looked for his friend anxiously, but in vain. He was not in the office, nor in the reading room, nor in the billiard room. “He will return soon,” thought Peter; and he took a seat where he could see all who entered, and waited patiently. A half hour passed, and then an hour, and that grew into two hours. Still he waited. At last he could stand it no longer. “I will leave a message for him,” he thought; and went to the desk and wrote a short note. “Will you hand this to Mr. Elwell when he returns?” he said, handing the note to the clerk. That languid functionary took the note and scanned it carelessly. At last he said languidly: “Mr. Elwell has gone.” “Gone?” repeated Coleman blankly. “Gone,” reiterated the clerk. “Four-thirty boat. Bill is paid;” and having delivered himself of this, the languid clerk sank back into his chair. Coleman cursed heartily. He could do nothing but return to the house, and endeavor to persuade Lettie to stay. But here again fate was against him, for he was met at the door with the information that Miss Allan had gone, and would not return for a week or ten days. “Devil take ’em!” cried Peter, in his exasperation. “They have both taken the same boat. Let them fight it out between them. I have done all I can;” and washing his hands of it thus, he went to his supper with as much appetite as he could muster. * * * * * Elwell was considerably astonished to find himself accompanied by this unwelcome visitor. Perhaps, if he had known it sooner, he might have expressed his dissatisfaction forcibly; but the boat had nearly completed its voyage before he discovered her presence, and then it was too late. Perhaps the words of Peter Coleman had left an impression on him. At all events, he made no further attempt to interfere with the young lady’s visit. Even when he heard Fanny introduce her as one of _his_ friends from Chicago, he even went so far as to admit to himself that Lettie was a very valuable addition to the little party. Her tact was perfect, and she made friends of all she met--from Fanny’s simpering schoolgirl friends to the rough old cronies of her father’s. At the wedding she was the only self-possessed person in the room. And as Elwell entered the cars with his newly wedded wife, he found himself thinking with great satisfaction, that Lettie was there to take care of old Pat, who had got hilariously intoxicated in honor of the bride and groom.