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CHAPTER XIII.

A lover's fate and a friend's counsel.

It was about half-past three when Stafford
left Territon Park; about the same hour Claudia
sallied forth from the Dower House to take
her constitutional. When' two peopleii sfart to
walk at the same time from opposite ends of
the same road, barring accidents, they meet
somewhere about the middle. In accordance
with this law, when Claudia was about two miles
from home, walking along the path through
the dense woods of Territon Park, she saw
Stafford coming towards her. There were no
means of escape, and with a sigh of resignation
she sat down on a rustic seat and awaited
his approach. He saw her as soon as she saw
him, and came up to her without any embar¬
rassment.

" I am lucky," he said. " I wasrgpipg over
to see you."                           , -   * '

Claudia had given some thought to this inter¬
view, and had determined on her best course.

" Mr. Lane told me you were coming."

" Dear old Eugene! "

" But I hoped you would not."