some blind, unreasoning way that it was wrong, and yet I
knew that to cease to love you was an impossibility. But in the solitude
of the mountains God showed me a better way. He showed me the true
meaning of those words, 'In the resurrection they neither marry nor are
given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.' Those words
had always seemed to me austere and cold, as though they implied that
our poor love would be superseded by higher attributes possessed by the
angelic hosts, of which we knew nothing. Now I know that they mean that
our human love shall be refined from all the dross of earthly passion,
purified and exalted above mortal conception. I prayed that my love for
you might be in some such measure refined and purified, and I know that
prayer has been answered. I pledge you that love, Kathie; a love that
will never wrong you even in thought; that you can trust in all the days
to come as ready to defend or protect you if necessary, and as always
seeking your best and highest happiness."

"Thank you, John," she said, and bowed her head above their clasped
hands for a moment.

When she raised her head her eyes were glistening. "We need not be
afraid or ashamed to acknowledge love such as ours," she said, proudly;
"and with the assurance you have given me I shall have strength and
courage, whatever may come. I must go," she added, lifting her face to
his; "I want your kiss now, John, rather than amid all the meaningless
kisses that will be given me after the ceremony."

Their lips met in a lingering kiss, then she silently withdrew from the
room.

As she crossed the hall Walcott suddenly brushed past her breathlessly,
without seeing her, and ran swiftly downstairs. His evident excitement
caused her to pause for an instant; as she did, she heard him exclaim,
in a low, angry tone and with an oath,--

"You dog! What brings you here? How dare you come here?"

There came a low reply in Spanish, followed by a few quick, sharp words
from Walcott in the same tongue, but which by their inflection Kate
understood to be an exclamation and a question.

Her curiosity aroused, she noiselessly descended to the first landing,
and, leaning over the balustrade, saw a small man, with dark olive skin,
standing close to Walcott, with whom he was talking excitedly. He spoke
rapidly in Spanish. Kate caught only one word, "Senora," as he handed a
note to Walcott, at the same time pointing backward over his shoulder