"But, Kathie, dear child," Darrell interposed, "have you considered what

such a life means to you--what is involved in such a sacrifice?"

She met his troubled gaze with a smile. "Yes, I know," she replied;

"there is not a phase of this affair which I have not considered. I am

years older than when we met three months ago, and I have thought of

everything that a woman can think of."

She watched him a moment, the smile on her lips deepening. "Have you

considered this?" she asked. "Only those whom we love have the power to

wound us deeply; one whom I do not love will have little power to hurt

me; he can never reach my heart; that will be safe in your keeping."

Darrell bowed his head upon his hands with a low moan. Kate, laying her

hand lightly upon his shoulder, continued: "What I particularly wanted you to know before our parting and to

remember is this: that come what may, I shall never be false to my love

for you. No matter what the future may bring to you or to me, my heart

will be yours."

Darrell raised his head, his face tense and rigid with emotion; she had

risen and was standing beside him.

"I can never forgive myself for having won your heart, Kathie," he said,

gravely; "It is the most precious gift that I could ask or you could

bestow, but one to which I have no right."

"Then hold it in trust," she said, softly, "until such time as I have

the right to bestow it upon you and you have the right to accept it."

Startled not only by her words but by the gravity of her tone and

manner, Darrell glanced swiftly towards Kate, but she had turned and was

slowly climbing the mountain path. Springing to his feet he was quickly

at her side. Drawing her arm within his own he assisted her up the rocky

trail, scanning her face as he did so for some clew to the words she had

just spoken. But, excepting a faint flush which deepened under his

scrutiny, she gave no sign, and, the trail for the next half-hour being

too difficult to admit of conversation, they made the ascent in silence.

On reaching the summit an involuntary exclamation burst from Darrell at

the grandeur of the scene. North, west, and south, far as the eye could

reach, stretched the vast mountain ranges, unbroken, with here and there

gigantic peaks, snow-crowned, standing in bold relief against the sky;

while far to the eastward lay the valleys, threaded with silver streams,

and beyond them in the purple distance outlines of other ranges scarcely

distinguishable from the clouds against which they seemed to rest.

Kate watched Darrell, silently enjoying his surprise. "This is my

favorite resort,--on the summit of the 'divide,'" she said; "I thought

you would appreciate it. It involves hard climbing, but it is worth the

effort."




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