now, of course, he
must keep his word and go and carry the letter to her, although he would
rather have walked into a fire than into that false siren's presence.

It is true that his love for her was dead and gone. But it had died such
a cruel and violent death that the very memory of it was full of pain
and horror, and to meet her would be like meeting the specter of his
murdered love. Nevertheless he must not shrink from his duty; he must go
and do it.

Before reporting at his college, he went to a hotel and changed his
clothes, and then started out to find Mary Grey's residence. That was
not so easily done. She had omitted to leave her address with her
friends at Blue Cliffs, and Emma's letter was simply directed to Mrs.
Mary Grey, Charlottesville.

True, Charlottesville was not a very large place; but looking for a lady
there was something like looking for the fabulous needle in the
haystack.

Still, he had formed a plan of action to find her. He knew that she
pretended to great piety; that she was a member of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and that wherever she might happen to sojourn she
would be sure to join the church and make friends with the clergy of her
own denomination.

So Alden bent his steps to the house of the Episcopal minister at
Charlottesville.

He found the reverend gentleman at home, and received from him, as he
had expected to do, the address of Mrs. Grey.

"A most excellent young woman, sir--an earnest Christian. She lost not a
day in presenting her church letter and uniting herself with the church.
She has been here but ten days, and already she has taken a class in the
Sunday-school. A most meritorious young woman, sir," said the worthy
minister, as he handed the card with Mrs. Grey's new address written
upon it.

To Alden, who knew the false-hearted beauty so well, all this was
surprising.

But he made no comment. He simply took the card, bowed his thanks, and
left the house to go and seek the home of Mrs. Grey.

Among many falsehoods, the woman had told one truth when she had
informed Emma Cavendish that she had a lady friend at Charlottesville
who kept a students' boarding-house. She had met this lady just previous
to engaging as drawing-mistress at Mount Ascension. And by her alluring
arts she had won her sympathy and confidence. She was staying with this
friend at the time that Alden sought her out.

He now easily found the house.

And when he inquired of the negro boy