What he had dreamed of he at length
vieweda lofty plateau of moderate
proportions, surrounded by crags, wa
terways, cascades and a clear view of
twenty-five miles in any direction.
"Belongs to a man named Trask
Abel Trask," explained the agent. "He
has lived in that old house for nearly
half a century. Wife died he has an
only daughter, times hard and poor,
and she has developed into quite a
singer. It nearly breaks the old man's
heart to sell the place, but he is bent
on giving his daughter a first-class mu
sical education."
"Close with him at once," directed
Florae eagerly. "The old vine-covered
house is picturesque. It shall remain,
if only for its antiquity. Those trees
and shrubs must not be disturbed. I
shall build more to the head of the val
ley. Ah, a rare spot, truly! I shall
be very content."
But Florae was not content. He took
great pleasure at the first in seeing his
ideas carried out as to the house. Then
there was a spell when his interest was
centered on furnishing it.
"The complete article, just as I
dreamed!" declared Florae with great
satisfaction, but within a month his
lonely environment began to pall on
him.
"I'm missing companionshipthat is
it!" he decided, and forthwith for six
months there was not a week-end that
he did not have some one of his former
friends as guests. They were .merely
acquaintances, however. They partook
of his meals, they borrowed money of
him, they were not truly friends.
Florae had engaged a poor old
couple, pioneers in the neighborhood,
to act as caretaker and housekeeper.
