enly,
a thrill of delight had swept through him as he noted how rosy were her
cheeks and how ruddy the wrists above the gloves, hiding the dear hands
he loved so well, the tapering fingers tipped with delicate pink nails.
He could, if he sought them, find many telltale wrinkles about the
corners of the mouth and under the eyelids (he knew and loved them
all), showing where the acid of anxiety had bitten deep into the plate
on which the record of her life was being daily etched, but her
beautiful gray eyes still shone with the same true, kindly light, and
always flashed the brighter when they looked into his own. No, she was
ever young and ever beautiful to him!

To-day, however, there was a strange tremor in her voice and an
anxious, troubled expression in her face--one that he had not seen for
years. Nor had she once looked into his eyes in the old way.

"Something worries you, Jane," he said, his voice echoing his thoughts.
"Tell me about it."

"No--not now--it is nothing," she answered quickly.

"Yes, tell me. Don't keep any troubles from me. I have nothing else to
do in life but smooth them out. Come, what is it?"

"Wait until we get through with Burton's boy. He may be hurt worse than
you think."

The doctor slackened the reins until they rested on the dashboard, and
with a quick movement turned half around and looked searchingly into
Jane's eyes.

"It is serious, then. What has happened?"

"Only a letter from Lucy."

"Is she coming home?"

"No, she is going to be married."

The doctor gave a low whistle. Instantly Archie's laughing eyes looked
into his; then came the thought of the nameless grave of his father.

"Well, upon my soul! You don't say so! Who to, pray?"

"To a Frenchman." Jane's eyes were upon his, reading the effect of her
news. His tone of surprise left an uncomfortable feeling behind it.

"How long has she known him?" he continued, tightening the reins again
and chirruping to the mare..

"She does not say--not long, I should think."

"What sort of a Frenchman is he? I've known several kinds in my
life--so have you, no doubt," and a quiet smile overspread his face.
"Come, Bess! Hurry up, old girl."

"A gentleman, I should think, from what she writes. He is much older
than Lucy, and she says very well off."

"Then you didn't meet him on the other side?"

"And never heard of him before?"

"Not until I received this letter."

The doctor reached for his whip and flecked off a