e work already
done on this manuscript mere wasted time!"

Weil turned from his friend in disgust. Could the man talk nothing,
think nothing, but shop?

But Archie did not come to the wedding. He knew the final strain would
be more than he could bear. It was one thing to sacrifice the woman he
loved and quite another to see her given into the arms of the rival he
had encouraged. One may do the noblest things, at a respectful distance,
and find himself physically unable to view them at greater proximity.

Of course Shirley Roseleaf was almost too happy to breathe. But even the
happiest of lovers somehow manage to inhale a sufficiency of oxygen to
keep life in them, though they have no knowledge of the process by which
this is accomplished. He had seen several of his productions in type,
some in the leading magazines, and he had a permanent position now on
the staff of a great periodical. When the month he had allowed himself
as necessary for a wedding journey was ended, he would settle down to
work, and he knew no reason why he might not make a success in his
chosen field. And there was Daisy--always Daisy--he would never again be
separated from Daisy! Who that has loved and been loved can doubt the
perfect content of this young man?

The saddest face at Midlands was that of Mr. Fern, who failed in his
best attempts to appear cheerful. He was not sorry that his daughter was
to be married, he would not have put a single obstacle in her way; but
she was going from him, and the very, very dear relations they had so
long sustained would never be exactly the same again. It was the destiny
of a woman to cleave to her husband. He found no fault with the law of
nature, but he had clung to Daisy so devotedly that he could not welcome
very sincerely the hour that was to take her away.

The marriage was to be early in the evening. Everything was ready, even
to the trunks, filled with traveling and other dresses. The night was to
be passed at the Imperial Hotel in the city, and the journey proper to
be begun some time on the following day.

On the most momentous morning of her life, Daisy Fern announced that she
had an errand to do in the city and would return shortly after twelve
o'clock. As she was so thoroughly her own mistress nobody thought of
questioning her more particularly. But twelve o'clock came, and one
o'clock, and three, and five, and she neither was seen at Midlands nor
was any message received from her.

By t