my lode-star, my hope--all that a
young girl is to a man who idolizes her as the one supreme being on
earth who can make him happy. Oh, Claire, I worship you as man never
worshiped woman before, and I want you for my wife."

She opened her lips to speak, but he went on rapidly, hoarsely:

"Do not refuse me, for it would be my death warrant if you did. I tell
you I cannot brook a refusal from those dear lips of yours. If you do
not consent I shall make away with myself in your presence here and now
with a revolver which lies in my breast pocket."

A scream of terror broke from Claire's terrified lips.

"Oh, do not make away with yourself, Mr; Armstrong!" "I--I will
promise--anything you--you want me to! Only don't shoot
yourself--don't!"

"Then you accept me?" queried Kendale in a very businesslike manner.

"Ye-es--if mamma does not--object," she answered in a stifling manner.

"There must be no ifs," he declared. "You must take me, no matter who
objects. If we cannot bring your mamma around to an amicable way of
thinking, we must elope--that is all there is about it."

"Elope!" gasped Claire in affright.

"Why, what else would there be left to do?" he asked, with asperity. "I
love you and I must have you, Claire, and if you are willing to take me,
why, we will marry in spite of anything and everything that opposes.

"Of course, if your mamma sees things as we do, all well and good; but
I say now to you, her objections must make no difference whatever in our
plans."

"Oh, Mr. Armstrong!" gasped Claire, not knowing what in the world to say
to this ardent lover, who was so impetuous in his wooing.

Before he could add a word Mrs. Fairfax came down the grand stairway,
her silken gown making a rustling frou-frou upon the velvet carpet.

She looked much surprised at finding him there, as she had not been
apprised of his coming.

Kendale arose to greet her in his usual impressive, languid, courteous
fashion, managing to whisper in Claire's ear hastily:

"Make some excuse to leave the drawing-room for a few minutes, dear, and
while you are gone I will broach the all-important subject to your
mother."

Mrs. Fairfax greeted the handsome young man cordially, pretending not to
have noticed how near to each other they had been sitting upon her
entrance to the drawing-room, and how suddenly they had sprung apart.

Her daughter's blushing face and confused manner told her that the
propitious moment had arrived--th