n one of the walks
a little distance from the house. He stationed himself at the door with
some other unattached men, and followed Isabel's course over the floor
with intent, eager eyes. The dance, to a new and enchanting air, was
prolonged and he died many deaths as he watched her, catching
tantalizing glimpses of her face only to lose it again.

No one in the happy throng seemed gayer than she; and once as she
tripped by he assured himself that there was no hostility in the swift
glance she gave him. Seeing her again rilled him with a great happiness
untinged with bitterness. Among all the women of the bright company she
alone was superb, and not less regal for his remembrance of her anger,
the anger that had brought tears to her lovely eyes.

At the conclusion of the number, she remained, to his discomfiture, at
the farther end of the platform, and when he hurried forward in the hope
of detaching her from the group that surrounded her she did not see him
at all, which was wholly discouraging. A partner sought her for the next
dance and as the music struck up he made bold to accost her.

"I am not to be eluded!" he said. "I must have at least one dance!"

"My card is filled--but I am reserving a boon for you! You shall have
the intermission," and added as by an afterthought, "Mr. Comly," with a
delicious mockery.

He passed Ruth, returning to put herself in the path of her next
partner.

"This is your punishment for coming late!" laughed the girl. There was
happiness in her eyes. "How perfectly ridiculous you two men are!"

"Suppose we talk a bit," said the Governor when they had found a bench
on the lawn. He was silent for several minutes, sitting erect with arms
folded.

"It's nearing the end!" he said solemnly; "there are other changes and
chances perhaps, but the end is in sight. The whole thing was
unalterable from the beginning; it makes little difference what we do
now. And it's you--it's you that have brought it all about. We are bound
together by ties not of earthly making."

He laughed softly, turned and placed his hand on Archie's shoulder.

"You are beginning to believe at last?"

"I don't know what to believe," Archie answered slowly. "There's
something uncanny in all this. Just how much do you understand of it?"

"Precious little! Your Isabel and my Ruth are friends; quite intimate
friends indeed. In college together, I'd have you know, but I never knew
it till now. That's news to you, isn'