been to me and done for me, but I have a feeling that goes
beyond mere gratitude. But to say that I return the love you profess
for me--that I even entertain any feeling resembling it--I can not, and
certainly not at this time."

"But you certainly do not love any one else?"

"O, I beg of you not to question me."

"I know I have no right to ask you such a question. I have no right to
pry into any matter which you do not choose to reveal to me of your own
free will and accord. But as all the mail of the hospital goes through
my hands, I could not help noticing that in all the months that you have
been here you have written to no man, nor received a letter from one.
Upon this I have built my hopes that you were heartfree."

"I can not talk of this, nor of anything now. I am so wrought up by many
things that have happened--by my letter from home; by your unexpected
declaration--that my poor brain is in a whirl, and I can not think
clearly and connectedly on any subject. Please do not press me any more
now."

The torrent of his passion was stayed by this appeal to his forbearance.
He essayed to calm down his impetuous eagerness for a decision of his
fate, and said penitently:

"I beg your pardon. I really forgot. I have so long sought an
opportunity to speak to you upon this matter, and I have been so often
balked at the last moment, that when a seeming chance came I was carried
away with it, and in my selfish eagerness for my own happiness, I forgot
your distress. Forgive me--do."

"I have nothing to forgive," she said frankly, most touched by his
tender consideration. "You never allow me an occasion for forgiveness,
or to do anything in any way to offset the favors you continually heap
upon me."

"Pay them all a thousand times over by giving me the least reason to
hope."

"I only wish I could--I only wish I dared. But I fear to say anything
now. I can not trust myself."

"But you will at least say something that will give me the basis of a
hope," he persisted.

"Not now--not now," she said, giving him her hand, which he seized and
kissed fervently, and withdrew from the room.

She bolted the door and gave herself up to the most intense thought.

Assignment to duty with an expedition took Dr. Denslow away the next
morning, without his being able to see her. When he returned a week
later, he found this letter lying on his desk:

MY VERY DEAR FRIEND: The declaration you honored me with making has been
t