ng partly behind him, she said, timidly: "Will you
answer me one thing truly?"

Alone with Katy, Wilford felt all his old tenderness returning, and
drawing her into his lap, he asked her what it was she wished to know.

"Did you love anybody three or four years ago, or ever--that is, love
them well enough to wish to make them your wife?"

Katy could feel how Wilford started, as he said: "What put that idea
into your head? Who has been talking to you?"

"Juno," Katy answered. "She told me she believed that it was some other
love which kept you a bachelor so long. Was it, Wilford?" and Katy's
lips quivered in a grieved kind of way as she put the question.

"Juno be--"

Wilford did not say what, for he seldom swore, and never in a lady's
presence, even if the lady were his wife. So he said, instead:

"It was very unkind in Juno to distress you thus with matters about
which she knew nothing."

"But did you?" Katy asked again. "Was there not a Sybil Grey, or some
one of that name?"

At mention of Sybil Grey, Wilford looked relieved, and answered her at
once:

"Yes, there was a Sybil Grey, Mrs. Judge Grandon now, and a dashing
widow. Don't sigh so wearily," he continued, as Katy drew a gasping
breath. "Knowing she was a widow, I chose you, thus showing which I
preferred. Few men live to be thirty without more or less fancies, which
under some circumstances might ripen into something stronger, and I am
not an exception. I never loved Sybil Grey, nor wished to make her my
wife. I admired her very much. I admire her yet, and among all my
acquaintances there is not one upon whom I would care to have you make
so good an impression as upon her, nor one whose manner you could better
imitate."

"Oh, will she call? Shall I see her?" Katy asked, beginning to feel
alarmed at the very thought of Sybil Grey, with all her polish and
manner.

"She is spending the winter in New Orleans with her late husband's
relatives. She will not return till spring," Wilford replied. "But do
not look so distressed, for I tell you solemnly that I never loved
another as I love you, my wife. Do you believe me?"

"Yes," and Katy's head drooped upon his shoulder.

She was satisfied with regard to Sybil Grandon, only hoping she would
not have to meet her when she came home. But the picture. Whose was
that? Not Sybil's certainly, else Juno would have known. The picture
troubled her, but she dared not speak of it, Wilford had seemed so angry
at