ome, sweetheart," she said softly.

I could resist no longer. I sprang in; the door slammed, and we were
alone together.

No, not alone, either. The Spencer woman was there with us--before
us--all around us. "I am Armand Dalberg's wife" was pounding in my
brain.

Then I felt a soft little hand slip into mine; a perfumed hair tress
touched my cheek; and the sweetest voice, to me, on earth whispered in
my ear.

"Don't I get my kiss now?"

I flung my arm about her and caught her close--then loosed her sharply
and drew back.

"God help me, Dehra, I may not," I said.

She laughed softly, and again she found my hand--and I felt her hair
brush my face--and her body rest against my shoulder.

"Why, Armand?" she asked. "Why may you not kiss your betrothed?"

"Because," said I, "because----"

"Yes, dear, go on," she whispered.

I drew my hand away from hers. "Did you not hear that woman claim me
as her husband?" I said.

But she only pressed the closer. I was in the very corner of the
carriage now; I could retreat no farther. And, maybe, I was glad. I
think I was.

"But that's no reason," she insisted. "You are not her husband."

"You believe that, dear?" I cried.

She put her arms about my neck and kissed me, almost fiercely, on the
lips--then, suddenly, drew back and, with both hands pressed against my
breast, she viewed me at arm's length.

"Believe it?" she said; "believe it? I never believed anything else."

I took her hands and reverently touched them to my forehead--then, held
them tight.

"After all these years, God would not send you to me just to mock my
prayers," she added.

"But the certificate!" I objected.

"A lie or a forgery," she said scornfully.

I drew her head upon my shoulder. "Sweetheart," I whispered; "may I
kiss you, now?"

She lifted her dear face and looked up into mine with glistening eyes,
her lips half parted. My own eyes, too, were wet, I think.

"Yes, Armand--now and always," she answered.

And, so I held her, for a moment; then, bent and kissed her. And that
kiss is on my lips this instant, and will be until they numb in death.

XV

HER WORD AND HER CERTIFICATE

If any man--having lived a bachelor to early middle life, has then found
his ideal, and has been, unexpectedly and undeservedly, favored with her
love, and then, within two hours thereafter and in her very presence, has
been claimed by another woman as her husband--that man will be abl