CHAPTER IX.
The latter part of September Carley returned to New York.
Soon after her arrival she received by letter a formal proposal of marriage from Elbert Harrington, who had been quietly attentive to her during her sojourn at Lake Placid.

He was a lawyer of distinction, somewhat older than most of her friends, and a man of means and fine family.

Carley was quite surprised.

Harrington was really one of the few of her acquaintances whom she regarded as somewhat behind the times, and liked him the better for that.

But she could not marry him, and replied to his letter in as kindly a manner as possible.