o think more calmly. Then he went back in his thoughts to the
time when he had first met Kate and she had bewitched him. He could see
now the heartlessness of her. He had met her first at the house of a
friend where he was visiting, partly on pleasure, partly on business. She
had devoted herself to him during the time of her stay in a most charming
way, though now he recalled that she had also been equally devoted to the
son of the house whom he was visiting. When she went home she had asked
him to come and call, for her home was but seven miles away. He had been
so charmed with her that he had accepted the invitation, and, rashly he
now saw, had engaged himself to her, after having known her in all face to
face but a few days. To be sure he had known of her father for years, and
he took a good deal for granted on account of her fine family. They had
corresponded after their engagement which had lasted for nearly a year,
and in that time David had seen her but twice, for a day or two at a time,
and each time he had thought her grown more lovely. Her letters had been
marvels of modesty, and shy admiration. It was easy for Kate to maintain
her character upon paper, though she had had little trouble in making
people love her under any circumstances. Now as he looked back he could
recall many instances when she had shown a cruel, heartless nature.

Then, all at once, with a throb of joy, it came to him to be thankful to
God for the experience through which he had passed. After all it had not
been taken from him to love with a love enduring, for though Kate had been
snatched from him just at the moment of his possession, Marcia had been
given him. Fool that he was! He had been blind to his own salvation.
Suppose he had been allowed to go on and marry Kate! Suppose he had had
her character revealed to him suddenly as those letters of hers to Harry
Temple had revealed it--as it surely would have been revealed in time, for
such things cannot be hid,--and she had been his _wife!_ He shuddered. How
he would have loathed her! How he loathed her now!

Strangely enough the realization of that fact gave him joy. He sprang up
and waved his hands about in silent delight. He felt as if he must shout
for gladness. Then he gravely knelt beside his chair and uttered an
audible thanksgiving for his escape and the joy he had been given. Nothing
else seemed fitting expression of his feelings.

There was one other question to consider--Marcia'