CHAPTER XI.
HEARTS LAID BARE.
They sat in the breakfast room—the family and
Cherokee.
"Did I tell you, wife, that when Mr. Frost was here he brought me news of Robert Milburn?"
The tall, graceful woman thus addressed looked from the head of the table, and showing much interest, questioned:
"Indeed! well, how was he doing? I grew very fond of the boy when he was here."
"The news is sad; he has gone to drinking," said the Major, sorrowfully.
"I don't believe it; we have no reason to take this stranger's word; we don't know who he is." Turning to Cherokee she asked:
"Did you ever hear of Mr. Frost in New York?"
With a suppressed sigh, she answered:
"He is an artist of considerable note, I knew him very well."
Suddenly Mrs. McDowell remembered that this was the bold man of whom Cherokee had told her
