“No reason why he shouldn’t.” “What is his salary?” “A nominal sum, five or ten thousand perhaps.” “Owns good share of the bank’s stock I presume?” “Enough to control it.” “Below par though?” “A trifle, going up, however.” “And _don’t_ speculate?” The way this man drawled his words was excessively disagreeable. “Not that any one knows of. He’s made his fortune and now asks only to enjoy it.” The man from the West strutted back and looked at his companion knowingly. “What do you think of my judgment, Stadler?” “None better this side of the Pacific.” “Pretty good at spying out cracks, eh?” “I wouldn’t like to undertake the puttying up that would deceive you.” “Humph! Well then, mark this. In two months from to-day you will see Mr. Sylvester rent his house and go south for his health, or the pretty one over there will marry one of the scapegraces you mention, who will lend the man _who don’t engage in any further ventures_, more than one or two hundred thousand dollars.” “Ha, you know something.” “I own mines in Colorado and I have my points.” “And Mr. Sylvester?” “Will find them too sharp for him.” And having made his joke, he yielded to the other’s apparent restlessness, and they sauntered off. They did not observe a pale, demure, little lady that sat near them abstractedly nodding her dainty head to the remarks of a pale-whiskered youth at her side, nor notice the emotion with which she suddenly rose at their departure and dismissed her chattering companion on some impromptu errand. It was only one of the ordinary group of dancers, a pretty, plainly dressed girl, but her name was Stuyvesant. Rising with a decision that gave a very attractive color to her cheeks, she hastily looked around. A trio of young gentlemen started towards her but she gave them no encouragement; her eye had detected Mr. Sylvester’s tall figure a few feet off and it was to him she desired to speak. But at her first movement in his direction, her glance encountered another face, and like a stream that melts into a rushing torrent, her purpose seemed to vanish, leaving her quivering with a new emotion of so vivid a character she involuntarily looked about her for a refuge. But in another instant her eyes had again sought the countenance that had so moved her, and finding it bent upon her own, faltered a little and unconsciously allowed the lilies she was carrying to drop from her hand. Before she realized her loss, the face before her had vanished, and with it something of her hesitation and alarm. With a hasty action she drew near Mr. Sylvester. “Will you lend me your arm for a minute?” she asked, with her usual appealing look rendered doubly forcible by the experience of a moment before. “Miss Stuyvesant! I am happy to see you.” Never had his face looked more cheerful she thought, never had his smile struck her more pleasantly.