receding up the
road, and as she looked the form seemed to grow familiar in front of her
eyes. Surely she had seen that navy blue suit before, that brown hat and
those boots! Yes! the very walk was familiar to her. She knew that black
curly hair and that well formed back again!--it was Lawrence Cathcart!

Beatrice gave a low cry and covered her face with her hands.

The man looked round and his eyes fell upon the figure of the unhappy
Beatrice. He evidently recognized her for with a little hesitation he
advanced towards her and taking her arm said not unkindly--"Come with
me."

"I can't" groaned Beatrice.

"You must," said Lawrence.

Beatrice could do no more but slowly and sadly she followed her enemy.

Many thoughts flashed through her mind during that walk, thoughts that
Beatrice will never forget.

At last Lawrence stopped at an Inn door and he mounted the steps and
walked in. Beatrice followed in silence.

Presently Lawrence opened a door and the two went into a small but
pretty bedroom.

"Now," said Lawrence, turning the key in the door and looking kindly at
Beatrice, "have you changed your mind since we last met?"

The tears welled into Beatrice's blue eyes and rolled down her now
death-like cheeks. "Lawrence," she sobbed at length, "I wish I could say
I had, I almost love you Lawrence but I cannot marry you."

"Very well" answered Lawrence drawing his lips tightly together, "I see
my journey to France has been made in vain; I may add," he continued
"that I came here purposely to encounter you but all in vain! You have
no real reason for not wishing to become my wife--it is not possible;
but I will now flee from you and perhaps when I am laid upon my bed for
the last time and Death has siezed me in its jaws you will repent of
your past wrongs!!"

"Oh Lawrence!" Beatrice almost screamed in her agony "just one word
before you go!"

"Not one," replied Lawrence, and with these words upon his lips he left
the unhappy Beatrice in a swoon upon his floor.

Beatrice had given one hoarse scream as she fell to the floor, and it
brought a couple of waiters to the room.

"What is it?" asked one.

"A young lady has fainted" said the other "run for the doctor quick."

The next instant there was a regular crowd round Beatrice all intensely
interested, and in less time than it takes to tell old Doctor Holden was
bending over Beatrice's white rigid face.

"She has had some shock I fear" said he feeling the