Kate could endure the silence no longer, and ventured some timid word of

loving sympathy.

Darrell turned, facing her, his dark eyes strangely hollow and sunken.

"Yes," he said, in a low voice, "God knows I have suffered since I saw

you, but I deserve to suffer for having so far forgotten myself last

night. That is not what is troubling me now; it is the thought of the

sorrow and wretchedness I have brought into your pure, innocent

life,--that you must suffer for my folly, my wrong-doing."

"But," interposed Kate, "I don't understand; what wrong have you done?"

"Kathie," he answered, brokenly, "it was all a mistake--a terrible

mistake of mine! Can you forgive me? Can you forget? God grant you can!"

"Forgive! Forget!" she exclaimed, in bewildered tones; "a mistake?" her

voice faltered and she paused, her face growing deathly pale.

"I cannot think," he continued, "how I came to so forget myself, the

circumstances under which I am here, the kindness you and your people

have shown me, and the trust they have reposed in me. I must have been

beside myself. But I have no excuse to offer; I can only ask your

forgiveness, and that I may, so far as possible, undo what has been

done."

While he was speaking she had drawn away from him, and, sitting proudly

erect, she scanned his face in the waning light as though to read there

the full significance of his meaning. Her cheeks blanched at his last

words, but there was no tremor in her tones as she replied,-"I understand you to refer to what occurred last night; is that what you

wish undone--what you would have me forget?"

"I would give worlds if only it might be undone," he answered, "but that

is an impossibility. Oh Kathie, I know how monstrous, how cruel this

must seem to you, but it is the only honorable course left me after my

stupidity, my cursed folly; and, believe me, it is far more of a

kindness even to you to stop this wretched business right here than to

carry it farther."

"It is not necessary to consider my feelings in the matter, Mr. Darrell.

If, as you say, you found yourself mistaken, to attempt after that to

carry on what could only be a mere farce would be simply unpardonable. A

mistake I could forgive; a deliberate deception, never!"

The tones, so unlike Kate's, caused Darrell to turn in pained surprise.

The deepening shadows hid the white, drawn face and quivering lips; he

saw only the motionless, slender figure held so rigidly erect.

"But, Kathie--Miss Underwood--you must have misunderstood me," he said,

earnestly. "I have acted foolishly, but in no way falsely. You could

not, under any circumstances, accuse me of deception----"




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