s the thought of losing you that drove me to madness! You can't
believe that I meant to carry out my murderous threat--no! I cannot think
it, when my own heart aches with love and longing for you. If I write to
you, Dexie, and lay my heart open before you, surely you will believe me!"

"Do not trouble yourself to write, Mr. McNeil," was the scornful reply. "If
you have any heart-trouble, you will find me a poor physician, for I have
not the slightest interest in your condition."

"Dexie, are you going to leave me with no kinder remembrance of you than
those cruel words? I _must_ write, Dexie; say that you will answer my
letter," and a look of entreaty beamed from the dark eyes raised to her
face.

"Couldn't think of it! I am going away to enjoy myself, and am not going to
bother writing to every Tom, Dick and Harry, so I'll have to _throw you
over_!" and a pair of defiant eyes met his gaze.

Hugh's passionate nature was raised to the utmost, but he choked back the
words that rose to his lips, and giving her one long, earnest look, said in
a hoarse voice:

"You repeat my words! May you never have a happy moment until you are as
sorry for saying them as I am!" and he rose and left the car, meeting Lancy
on the steps.

"Well, Hugh, we are away at last," said Lancy, gaily. "Good-bye, old
fellow!"

But Hugh merely raised his eyes and hurried past, and before Elsie knew he
had left the car she saw him driving furiously down the road, past cabs and
trucks, escaping collision as if by a miracle, and the speed never slacked
until he had covered more ground than was necessary to take him home.

"What is the matter with Hugh?" said Lancy, as he seated himself beside his
sister. "I do think he might keep his temper occasionally. What has gone
wrong, now?" and he looked over at Dexie for his answer.

"I fear I am the wicked person that has gone wrong and as his eloquence
prevailed not in turning me from my evil ways he feels heart-sick."

"Heart-sick!" cried Elsie, in surprise; "that would not put him in a
temper, surely."

"Love-sick, then," said Dexie, with a smile; "that might account for it."
"Well," said Elsie, in a tone of disgust, "he must be awfully in love with
your Gussie, if he can't leave her long enough to drive us to the depot
without pining for her," whereupon Dexie forgot her surroundings and burst
into such a rippling laugh that Lancy felt forced to join her. The
infection spread to their fellow-travelle