ng the distorted souls with pestilence or
dangling hopes before their burning eyes, only to mock their struggles
and let them sink down! down! down! Death comes to one sufferer, and
then, with a gloating laugh, the monster drops another life into the pit
to let it writhe in its awful misery. Marion shuddered at her fancy, and
glanced up as if expecting to see the monster's eyes gleaming at the
pit's mouth. The thought was horrible, and she covered her eyes with her
hands to shut out her distorted imaginations, asking herself if there
was no power strong enough to drive away the spirit of gloom which beset
her, and make her pulses beat with joy. Deep in her heart she felt there
was such a power, but it troubled her to think of it.

"Mrs. Sanderson." She looked up, startled, and saw Duncan by her side.
"I thought you might like to walk on the other side of the veranda. It
is delightfully cool there."

For a moment she hesitated. "What can be the harm?" she thought. "None,"
was the answer she gave her question, and then she followed Duncan to
the northern side of the veranda where an arm of the building hid them
from the others. The moon was rising and her soft light was shed upon
the soughing trees, and the stretch of white roadway before them. It was
one of those perfect nights of early summer when the vexatious spirits
of the day seem lulled to sleep by the mild airs of heaven, and as
Marion sat there looking out over the moonlit park, she wondered at the
gruesome fancies which had filled her mind but a moment before.

"It is a joy to live on such a night as this," she said, after the
moment of silence which followed their coming.

Duncan leaned toward her, and spoke in the deep, soft tones Marion
remembered so well. "I feel," he said, "that heaven has sent us this
peaceful night to show us that happiness can be a reality."

"It is fortunate that perfect happiness seldom comes," she replied; "the
monotony of it would be unendurable."

"Do you think it would be monotonous always to love?" he asked.

"Not if it were possible," she answered after a moment of thought.

"I know it is possible," he said firmly.

"How?" she asked, looking up into his face.

His hand touched hers. "Because, when I look into your eyes, I feel a
love which no power on earth could change." She let her hand remain in
his, but she turned her face away. "How can I know this love is
sincere?" she asked.

"By driving the cruel spirit out of