ent no one noticed that Hubert Varrick and
Mrs. Northrup were left behind.

"Help me to bear this dreadful burden, Hubert!" she sobbed, hoarsely. "I
think I am going mad. I thank God that Gerelda's father did not live to
see this hour!"

Great as her grief was, the anguish on the face which Hubert Varrick
raised to hers was pitiful to behold.

She was terrified. She saw that he needed comfort quite as much as
herself.

The minister, who had entered the room unobserved, had heard all. He
quitted the apartment as quickly as he had entered it, and hurried
through the corridor to his friend Doctor Roberts.

"The greatest blessing you could do, doctor, would be to come to him
quickly, and give him a potion that will make him dead to his trouble
for a little while."

CHAPTER III.

"WHEN THOSE WE LOVE DRIFT AWAY FROM US THEY ARE NEVER THE SAME AGAIN--
THEY NEVER COME BACK."

"Only a heart that's broken,
That is, if hearts can break;
Only a man adrift for life,
All for a woman's sake.
Your love was a jest--I now see it--
Now, though it's rather late;
Yes, too late to turn my life
And seek another fate."

Although search was instantly instituted for the missing bride-elect,
not the slightest trace of her could be discovered.

Was she Hubert Varrick's bride or not? There was great diversity of
opinion about that. Many contended that she _was not_, because the words
from the minister: "Now I pronounce you man and wife," _had not yet been
uttered_.

No wonder the beauty had found it difficult to choose between handsome
Hubert Varrick and the dashing captain.

Varrick was a millionaire, and Captain Frazier could easily write out
his check for an equal amount.

The matter was hushed up quickly, and kept so quiet that even the simple
village folk at Alexandria Bay never knew of the thrilling event that
had taken place in their very midst at the Crossmon Hotel. If the simple
fisher-folk had but known of it, a tragedy might have been averted.

Mrs. Northrup was the first to recover from the shock; grief gave place
to the most intense anger, and as she paced the floor excitedly to and
fro, she vowed to herself that she would never forgive Gerelda for
bringing this disgrace upon her.

With Varrick the blow had been too severe, too terrible, to be so easily
gotten over. When morning broke, he still lay, face downward, on the
couch upon which he had thrown himself. The effects of the