A day or two later, while Mrs. Merton was in the city shopping, accompanied by Luke, a man of thirty years of age ascended the steps of the house on Prairie Avenue and rang the bell.
"Is Mrs. Tracy at home?" he asked of the servant who answered the bell.
"Yes, sir; what name shall I give?"
"Never mind about the name. Say it is an old friend."
"Won't you come in, sir?"
"Yes, I believe I will."
Mrs. Tracy received the message with surprise mingled with curiosity.
"Who can it be?" she asked herself.
She came downstairs without delay.
The stranger, who had taken a seat in the hall, rose and faced her.
"Don't you know me, Louisa?" he asked.
"Is it you, Warner?" she exclaimed, surprised and! startled.
"Yes," he answered, laughing. "It's a good while since we met."
"Five
