ings
the fair flower of self-sacrifice.

He tried a variety of smiles, for he wished to be easy in the difficult
part which he had so suddenly, and in the face of all the old years,
elected to play. "He must know by the look of me," said Aladdin, "that I
do not love her any more, for, God help me, I can't say it."

He found her on the broad rear veranda of the house. And instead of
going up to her and taking her in his arms,--for he had planned this
meeting often, as the stars could tell, he stood rooted, and said:

"Hallo, Margaret!"

He acted better than he knew, for the great light which had blazed for
one instant in her eyes on first seeing him went out like a snuffed
candle, and he did not see it or know that it had blazed. Therefore his
own cruelty was hidden from him, and his part became easier to play.
They shook hands, and even then, if he had not been blinded with the
egotism of self-sacrifice, he might have seen. That was his last chance.
For Margaret's heart cried to her, "It is over," and in believing it,
suddenly, and as she thought forever, an older sweetness came in her
face.

"You've changed, Aladdin," she said.

"Yes, I'm thinner, if possible," said Aladdin, "almost willowy. Do you
think it's becoming?"

"I am not sure," said Margaret. "The fact remains that I'm more than
glad to see you."

Aladdin fumbled for speech.

"I'm still a little lame, you see," he said apologetically, and took
several steps to show.

"Very!" said Margaret, in such a voice that Aladdin wondered what she
meant.

"But it doesn't hurt any more."

"Then that's all right."

"Where's Jack?" he asked at length.

Margaret became very grave.

"I'm afraid we've betrayed our trust, Aladdin," she said. "Because only
yesterday he slipped away and left a little note to say that he was
going to enlist. We're very much distressed about it."

"Perhaps it's better so," said Aladdin, "if he really wanted to go. Did
he leave any address?"

"None whatever; he simply vanished."

"Ungrateful little brute!" said Aladdin. Then he bethought him of Peter.
"I'll come back later, Margaret," he said, "but it behooves me to go and
look up the good Mrs. Brackett."

He hardly knew how he got out of the house. He felt like a criminal who
has been let off by the judge.

The sun was now low, and the shadows long and black. Aladdin found Peter
where he had left him, balancing on the great stone at the entrance, and
sending up clouds o