From the Valley of the Missing

"You must tell me; of course, you must!"

Fledra threw him a glance, pleading for leniency. She had expected him to importune, to scold, but in the end to trust. Suddenly, in the girl's imagination, Ann's gentle face bending over Floyd rose in its loving kindness.

"Then--then," she stammered, "if you won't have me, unless I tell you--then I'll go now--please!"

She left him with pathetic dignity, and her last glance showed his eyes, too, filled with a strange pain.