or a moment looking steadily at her with that cold, observant
glance, as if he would have this last picture of her this way to cut
away all tender memories that might cause pain in the future. Then he
turned as if to One who stood by his side. Not looking back again, he
said, clearly and distinctly:

"I choose!"

And with erect bearing he passed out of the door.

Gila stood, white and furious, her little clenched fists down at her
sides, the sharp little teeth biting into the red underlip until the
blood came. She heard the front door shut in the distance, and her soul
cried out within her, yet she stood still and held her ground. She
turned her face toward the library window. Between the curtains she
could presently see his tall form walking down the street. He was not
drooping, nor disheartened. He held his head up and walked as if in
company with One whom he was proud to own. There was nothing dejected
about the determined young back. Fine, noble, handsome as a man could
be! She saw that one glimpse of his figure for a moment, then he passed
beyond her sight and she knew in her heart he would come to her no
more! She had sent him from her forever!

She dashed up to her room in a fury and locked herself in. She wept and
stormed and denied herself to every one; she watched and waited for the
telephone to ring, yet she knew he would not call her up!

Courtland never knew where he was walking as he went forth that day to
meet his sorrow and face it like a man. He passed some of his
professors, but did not see them. Pat McCluny came up and he looked him
in the eye with an unseeing stare, and walked on!

Pat stood still and looked after him, puzzled!

"Holy Mackinaw! What's eating the poor stew now!" he ejaculated. He
stood a moment looking back after Courtland as he walked straight ahead,
passing several more university fellows without so much as a nod of
recognition. Then he turned and slowly followed, on through the city
streets, out into the quieter suburbs, out farther into the real
country, mile after mile; out a by-path where grass grew thick and wild
flowers straggled under foot, where presently a stream wound soft and
deep between steep banks, and rocks loomed high on either hand; under a
railroad bridge, and up among the rocks, climbing and puffing till at
last they stood upon a great rock, McCluny just a little way behind and
out of sight.

It was there in a sort of crevice, where the natural fall of th