en weakness came over
her. She felt as if her will-power was about to succumb before a
superior mental force. She loved this man. He was the first and only man
she had ever cared for, and she was losing him. Her eyes filled with
tears. What had she done that the happiness which other women know
should not be granted also to her?

"Good-by!" he said again.

She made no answer. Bending forward to catch a glimpse of her face, he
saw traces of tears.

"What?" he exclaimed. "You are crying!"

"Am I?" she said quickly, making a desperate effort to hide her face.
"How foolish!"

"Why are you crying?" he demanded.

"I'm nervous, I think. I have not yet quite recovered from the wreck."

He looked at her, trying to read her innermost thoughts. She met his
gaze unflinchingly.

"Is that the reason, or is there another?" Drawing her gently to him, he
said:

"You are unhappy-- I know you are---- You are allowing your pride to
stand in the way of your happiness. I have no right to blame you. You
are free to do as you think is right. Only I am sorry for you--sorrier
for you than I am for myself. Good-by. May God bless and protect you.
Just one kind word, one smile before I go. We may never see each other
again."

His voice trembled and grew husky. Manlike, he was ashamed of showing
emotion; he was anxious to get away before he lost control of himself.
He left her standing there, took his hat and gloves and went toward the
door. She stood motionless watching him going, powerless to utter the
word that would stay him. The color left her face. She grew ashen pale.
Her entire being trembled with suppressed emotion.

At the door he turned round for the last time.

"Good-by--God bless you!" he said.

"Wait--just a moment--just a moment!" she cried desperately.

The spell seemed broken. She made a movement forward, her hand
outstretched. There was a wild look of mute appeal in her eyes.

"You are going alone," she demanded, her breath coming and going in
quick spasmodic gasps.

"Yes--alone."

[Illustration: "NO--YOU'RE NOT! I'M GOING WITH YOU."]

"No--no--you're not!" she cried, advancing toward him.

"What do you mean?" he demanded.

"Because I'm going with you!"

The next instant she was in his arms, her face buried in his shoulder.

"Going with me?" he exclaimed hoarsely. He thought he must be dreaming.
Does such happiness as this come to a man so suddenly?

"Yes," she whispered; "as your wife--to the end of