dure the silence no longer, and ventured some timid word of
loving sympathy.

Darrell turned, facing her, his dark eyes strangely hollow and sunken.

"Yes," he said, in a low voice, "God knows I have suffered since I saw
you, but I deserve to suffer for having so far forgotten myself last
night. That is not what is troubling me now; it is the thought of the
sorrow and wretchedness I have brought into your pure, innocent
life,--that you must suffer for my folly, my wrong-doing."

"But," interposed Kate, "I don't understand; what wrong have you done?"

"Kathie," he answered, brokenly, "it was all a mistake--a terrible
mistake of mine! Can you forgive me? Can you forget? God grant you can!"

"Forgive! Forget!" she exclaimed, in bewildered tones; "a mistake?" her
voice faltered and she paused, her face growing deathly pale.

"I cannot think," he continued, "how I came to so forget myself, the
circumstances under which I am here, the kindness you and your people
have shown me, and the trust they have reposed in me. I must have been
beside myself. But I have no excuse to offer; I can only ask your
forgiveness, and that I may, so far as possible, undo what has been
done."

While he was speaking she had drawn away from him, and, sitting proudly
erect, she scanned his face in the waning light as though to read there
the full significance of his meaning. Her cheeks blanched at his last
words, but there was no tremor in her tones as she replied,--

"I understand you to refer to what occurred last night; is that what you
wish undone--what you would have me forget?"

"I would give worlds if only it might be undone," he answered, "but that
is an impossibility. Oh Kathie, I know how monstrous, how cruel this
must seem to you, but it is the only honorable course left me after my
stupidity, my cursed folly; and, believe me, it is far more of a
kindness even to you to stop this wretched business right here than to
carry it farther."

"It is not necessary to consider my feelings in the matter, Mr. Darrell.
If, as you say, you found yourself mistaken, to attempt after that to
carry on what could only be a mere farce would be simply unpardonable. A
mistake I could forgive; a deliberate deception, never!"

The tones, so unlike Kate's, caused Darrell to turn in pained surprise.
The deepening shadows hid the white, drawn face and quivering lips; he
saw only the motionless, slender figure held so rigidly erect.

"But, Kathie--Miss