sh, "He has
avoided me ever since the ceremony!"

Beverly Cruger had noticed that Helene was nervous and emotional, and
he attributed it to the excitement of the moment. But the deep-drawn
lines of her mouth and the stern look in her eye indicated anger and
deep-seated determination, rather than mere excitement.

"What is it, darling?" he asked tenderly. "Can't you trust me?"

"My father has purposely avoided me," she replied. "He knows it is
necessary that I should see him," and Helene then told her husband of
her recognition of Von Barwig in church. "I have mourned for him as
one dead and gone, and when I saw him to-day rising up like a spectre,
as if reproaching me for my neglect, I was terribly overcome. Oh,
Beverly, I can't explain, I don't understand why, but I think of him
constantly, and my heart goes out to him! Even at this moment I am
haunted by the thought of his dear, sweet, gentle smile. Why did my
father tell me he was dead? There is some mystery connected with Herr
Von Barwig that I am determined to find out! You'll help me, won't
you? I mean, you'll be patient with my--my unaccountable anxiety?"
Beverly nodded.

"Of course I will," he said. "Aren't you my wife?"

"Somehow or other," Helene went on, almost unconscious of Beverly's
presence, "I feel sure that he is in some way connected with my mother.
I know you'll think I'm foolish, but whenever I look at her portrait I
think of him. Why _should_ I think of him, unless--" Helene paused.
"I shall never forget that day, the day I dismissed him. He stood at
the door gazing at her portrait, the tears running down his cheeks, and
oh, such a sad, sad, longing expression on his face! Why should the
sight of my mother's portrait make him cry? What is he to her,
Beverly?"

Beverly shook his head. "I wish to God I hadn't sent him away," moaned
Helene. "What is this man to me that even the memory of his face makes
me suffer! To-day of all days I should be happy, but I'm miserable,
miserable, miserable!"

"If Mr. Stanton knows, he must tell us," declared Beverly emphatically.

"Yes, he shall tell us!" echoed Helene. "Let's go to him and demand
the truth."

"You stay here, Helene! I'll bring him to you."

Three minutes later Beverly had found his father-in-law surrounded by
friends, and had taken him by the arm and led him to Helene's room. It
was the room in which the old music master had given her lessons on the
piano. Helene no