rest Joyce had shown in the conversation.

"Leaving here in the sulks about you, what does he do but go down to
what he calls civilization, and strikes a rich claim first thing. All
that was lacking was ready money. Back he comes, and finds out the lay
of the land here, without so much as showing his nose. He says he had
several plans to get money--but this plan of mine is the easiest, so
we're going to work it. All my life I've dreamed by day and night"--a
sudden glow illumined Jude's dark face,--"of the road and where it
leads. Always, as true as God hears me, Joyce, always, as boy and man,
when I've fancied myself on the road, and beyond the forests, I've
always seen you beside me. I don't care what you are, or what
temptations beset you--you've always been the one girl for me. We're
going to begin a new life now--with no back flings at each other. Give
me a kiss on it, girl."

Jude came over to her, and she felt his hot, excited breath on her cheek
and throat.

Dazed as she was by what he had said, she was frightened at his manner,
and drew back, warding him off with rigid hands.

"Don't!" she cried, hoarsely. "Don't touch me. You're all wrong--I'm not
going anywhere with you. I'm going to stay right here--I swear it!"

"You won't go?" Everything swayed and trembled before Jude. "But if I
promise to--to--pay it back? You know there was no time set." This was
the last concession Jude was to make. His horrible suspicions were
choking him.

"I'm not going. I--I couldn't--I--couldn't leave--him." The white face
quivered and the big eyes overflowed with tears.

Jude had only one thought--a thought lashed to the fore by his jealous
rage, and defeated hopes. And poor Joyce, distraught and grief-crazed,
realized not the terrible blunder he was making.

"You're--staying--just--for him?" Jude was close to her now, and his
breath came short and hard.

"Yes; I know you won't ever understand. If I was away, I couldn't bear
my life--this--this longing would be always tugging at me--and I could
never help it. If we stay here, Jude, I'll go on just the--same; it's
being--near--that counts!"

"You--tell me this to my face--you fool!"

For an instant Joyce's dull agony wavered, and an inkling of what Jude
meant rushed upon her.

"Oh!" she gasped, and put her hands out to him. But it was too late. The
hot blood was surging in the weak brain. With a violence he had never
shown before, the man flung the outstretched hands