It was the 10th of January when Cobb and Hugh returned from their visit to New England and reached the city of Washington.
Hugh was not at all pleased to find Marie gone; as for Cobb, it mattered not whether Mollie was there or not. To be sure, he admired the girl; loved her, but as a brother. All the passion which he had first thought to be in his heart for his friend’s sister had vanished into a simple brotherly regard.
“Hello!” cried a familiar voice as Hugh came from the executive mansion that evening.
“Hello, Lester!” exclaimed Hugh, extending his hand. “Glad to see you back, old man.”
“I can’t say that I’m glad to get back. The girls are gone, father says,” returned Hugh, in a woe-begone tone of voice.
“Yes,” laconically.
“Given us the slip, eh?”
“Looks very much that way.”
“Did she leave any word for you?”
“Yes; a short letter. Gone to visit her aunt in San Francisco, or some other seaport, I believe,” answered Lester, dubiously.