It was true it had never occurred to him to look at Susy in the light of a celestial visitant, and I fear he was just then more struck with the fair complimenter than the compliment to his companion, but he was pleased for her sake.

He was not yet old enough to be conscious of the sex's belief in its irresistible domination over mankind at all ages, and that Johnny in his check apron would be always a hopeless conquest of Jeannette in her pinafore, and that he ought to have been in love with Susy.
Howbeit, the lady suddenly whisked her away to the recesses of her own wagon, to reappear later, washed, curled, and beribboned like a new doll, and Clarence was left alone with the husband and another of the party.
"Well, my boy, you haven't told me your name yet." "Clarence, sir." "So Susy calls you, but what else ?" "Clarence Brant." "Any relation to Colonel Brant ?" asked the second man carelessly.
"He was my father," said the boy, brightening under this faint prospect of recognition in his loneliness.
The two men glanced at each other.

The leader looked at the boy curiously, and said,-- "Are you the son of Colonel Brant, of Louisville ?" "Yes, sir," said the boy, with a dim stirring of uneasiness in his heart.

"But he's dead now," he added finally.
"Ah, when did he die ?" said the man quickly.
"Oh, a long time ago.

I don't remember him much.