Kent was already there, as was Miller Raymond, his wife, and Ruby, and the young sportsman was introduced, and again told the story of his rescue by Kent.
Then supper was served, and such a supper Schuyler Cluett had never sat down to before, he said, and with truth, for Mistress Raymond was noted for her housekeeping the country over.
During the evening Ruby sang, in a sweet soprano voice, played the piano with a skill that surprised the city-bred gentleman, and he found her to be lovely in face and form, with large, dark-blue eyes, golden hair, and a smile of the most fascinating sweetness, while her refinement of manner was as much a surprise to him as were her accomplishments.
Mr. Schuyler Cluett also learned a secret from the miller, and that was the fact of Ruby's engagement to Kent Lomax.
"Kent is a fine fellow, Mr. Cluett," volunteered the miller, "and we have known him from boyhood.
"His father married a crossed-grained woman after his first wife's death, and she made it so warm for the boy he ran away and went to sea.
"He was gone six years, and returned one day to find his step-mother dead, so he remained at home, took care of his father until his death, and now owns the farm, a mile from here, and a good one it is.
"He and Ruby have loved each other always, and they are to be married, come Christmas."
Schuyler Cluett went to his room that night, pondering over all he had heard, and at last he said half aloud:
"That beautiful girl marry that common fellow? Never! she shall be mine, and I swear it!"