66 THE TEMPERANCE MEETING

 

up quickly, at the sound of his footsteps,
and he saw that tears were on her cheeks.

“Why, Anna! what's the matter?” he
inquired.

“Oh, nothing,” she replied evasively,
trying to force a smile.

Le Roy looked at her for some moments,
earnestly, and as he did so, the truth flashed
over his mind. She, too, saw as clearly as
the tavern-keeper, that he was on the road
to ruin!

“ Anna,”—Le Roy spoke seriously, yet
with earnestness, and in a tone of affection
and confidence,—‘ Anna, I have found out
why Steve Miller was spying about here

“He wants this place for his daughter
Jane.”

Mrs. Le Roy looked bewildered.

“He thinks that, in about two years, I
will run it down, so that he will be able to
get it for about half its value. He was
looking to see how much progress I had