CHAPTER IX.
WHO IS GRETCHEN?
This was the question which Mr.and Mrs.Tracy asked of themselves and each other many times during the hours which intervened between their retiring and rising.

But speculate as they might they could reach no satisfactory conclusion, and were obliged to wait for what the morning and the train might bring.

The party had been a success, and Frank felt that his election to Congress was almost certain; but of what avail would all this be if he lost his foothold at Tracy Park, as he was sure to do if a woman appeared upon the scene.

Both he and his wife had outgrown the life of eleven years ago, and could not go back to it without a struggle, and it is not strange if both wished that the troublesome brother had remained abroad instead of coming home so suddenly and disturbing all their plans.

They heard him moving in his room before the clock struck six, and knew he was getting himself in readiness to meet the dreaded Gretchen.