then he said that having decided to accompany his sister and Mrs.
Ellsworth on her tour to Europe, whither she would go the latter part of
July, and having nothing in particular to occupy him in the interim, he
would, with Hugh's permission, spend a few days at Spring Bank. He did
not say he was coming to see Alice Johnson, but Hugh understood it just
the same, feeling confident that his sole object in visiting Kentucky
was to take Alice back with him, and carry her off to Europe.

Some such idea flitted across Alice's mind as she read that letter, and
for a single instant her eyes sparkled with delight at the thought of
wandering over Europe in company with Mrs. Ellsworth and Irving Stanley;
but when she looked at Hugh, the bright vision faded, and with it all
desire to go with Irving Stanley, even should he ask her. Hugh needed
her more than Irving Stanley. He was, if possible, more worthy of her.
His noble, unselfish devotion to 'Lina had finished the work begun on
that memorable night, when she said to him: "I may learn to love you,"
and from the moment when to 'Lina's passionate cry, "Will no one pity
me?" he had answered, "Yes, 'Lina, I will care for you," her heart had
been all his own, and more than once as she watched with him by 'Lina's
bedside, she had been tempted to wind her arm around his neck and
whisper in his ear:

"Hugh, I love you now, I will be your wife."

But propriety had held her back and made her far more reserved toward
him than she had ever been before. Terribly jealous where she was
concerned, Hugh was quick to notice the change, and the gloomy shadow on
his face was not caused wholly by 'Lina's sad death, as many had
supposed. Hugh was very unhappy. Instead of learning to love him, as he
had sometimes hoped she might, Alice had come to dislike him, shunning
his society, and always making some pretense to get away if, by chance,
they were left alone; and now, as the closing act in the sad drama,
Irving Stanley was coming to carry her off forever.

Hugh's heart was very sore as he sat there waiting for Alice to finish
that letter, and speak to him about it. What a long, long time it took
her to read it through--longer than it needed, he was sure, for the
handwriting was very plain and the letter very brief.

Alice knew he was waiting for her, and after hesitating a while, she
went up to him, and laying her hand on his shoulder, as she had not done
in weeks, she said:

"You will be glad