"But what brought you here, Mr. Clark?" put in the girl presently. Her eyes were very bright.
He turned to her: "What would you say?"
"Was it destiny?" she answered slowly.
"Yes," he replied with sudden gravity and a strange look at her bright eyes, "I think it was destiny."
Her heart beat more rapidly, and from Clark her glance moved to Belding who sat a little awkwardly. There was not more than fifteen years between them but Clark's face had that peculiarly ageless appearance which characterizes some men and lends them additional interest.
"And now you'll stay?" added Elsie.
"Don't you think there's enough to keep me?"
Belding roused himself with a chuckle but Clark went on thoughtfully.
"Do you see much change in St. Marys in the last few years?"
"Before you came," she said slowly, "it was just—just Arcadia."