To him, Miss Weldon seemed instantly to grow cold and reserved.

Vividly was now recalled his rejection by Miss Linmore, as well as the ground of her rejection.
"Is this to be gone over again ?" he sighed to himself, when alone once more, "Is that one false step never to be forgotten nor forgiven?
Am I to be followed, through life, by this shadow of evil ?" To no other cause than this could the mind of Florence attribute the apparent change and hesitation in Clara Weldon.
Immediately on receiving an offer of marriage, Miss Weldon returned to Albany.

Before leaving, she dropped Florence a note, to the effect, that he should hear from her in a few days.

A week passed, but the promised word came not.

It was, now plain that the friends of the young lady had been making inquiries about him, and were in possession of certain facts in his life, which, if known, would almost certainly blast his hopes of favor in her eyes.