in a dead faint.

Only heaven knew what she suffered when consciousness came to her. She
was almost mad with terror at finding herself snatched from the arms of
her lover at the very altar--kidnapped in this most outrageous manner.

She pictured her bridegroom's wild agony when he returned with the glass
of wine which he had hurried after, and found her missing.

But the knowledge that he had consoled himself so quickly by taking an
interest in some other girl almost took her breath away. Then she sent a
note to Captain Frazier. It contained but a few words, but they were
enough to send him into the seventh heaven of delight. They read as
follows:

"Prove to me, beyond all shadow of a doubt, that Hubert Varrick is
really in love with the rustic little village maid you speak of to such
an extent that he has secretly undertaken the care of her future, and,
madly as I love him, I will give him up and marry you within six months
from this time. But, in the meantime, you must return me at once to my
home and friends. This much I promise you: I shall not see Hubert
Varrick until this matter has been cleared up."

To this note Frazier sent back hurried word that she should have all the
proof of Hubert Varrick's perfidy that she might ask.

There was but one thing which it was impossible to do, and that was to
set her free during the six months' probation.

This was impossible. He could not do it; he loved her too madly. He
would go away, if she liked, and leave her to reign "queen of the isle."
She should have everything which heart desired--everything save
permission to leave the place.

To this Gerelda was forced to submit.

"If I were convinced that Hubert Varrick loved another, life would be
all over for me," she moaned again and again.

Meanwhile, as days and weeks rolled by, and no tidings reached Hubert
Varrick of the bride who, he supposed, had deserted him at the very
altar, his heart grew bitter against Gerelda.

He plunged into his practice of law, with the wild hope that he might
forget her.

The only diversity that entered his life was the letters which he
received from little Jessie Bain.

Girl-like, she wrote to him every day.

"I do wish you would adopt me, guardy," she wrote one day, "and bring me
home; I am so tired of this place. The principal always calls upon me to
look after all the little young fry in his school. Morning and night I
have to hear their prayers and hunt the shoes and stoc