at
Clarence, and, at the distance of several hundred miles, was safe for
the time being from any immediate danger of marriage.

With Rena's advent, however, he had seen life through different
glasses. His heart had thrilled at first sight of this tall girl, with
the ivory complexion, the rippling brown hair, and the inscrutable
eyes. When he became better acquainted with her, he liked to think
that her thoughts centred mainly in himself; and in this he was not far
wrong. He discovered that she had a short upper lip, and what seemed
to him an eminently kissable mouth. After he had dined twice at
Warwick's, subsequently to the tournament,--his lucky choice of Rena
had put him at once upon a household footing with the family,--his
views of marriage changed entirely. It now seemed to him the duty, as
well as the high and holy privilege of a young man, to marry and
manfully to pay his debt to society. When in Rena's presence, he could
not imagine how he had ever contemplated the possibility of marriage
with Blanche Leary,--she was utterly, entirely, and hopelessly unsuited
to him. For a fair man of vivacious temperament, this stately dark
girl was the ideal mate. Even his mother would admit this, if she
could only see Rena. To win this beautiful girl for his wife would be
a worthy task. He had crowned her Queen of Love and Beauty; since then
she had ascended the throne of his heart. He would make her queen of
his home and mistress of his life.

To Rena this brief month's courtship came as a new education. Not only
had this fair young man crowned her queen, and honored her above all
the ladies in town; but since then he had waited assiduously upon her,
had spoken softly to her, had looked at her with shining eyes, and had
sought to be alone with her. The time soon came when to touch his hand
in greeting sent a thrill through her frame,--a time when she listened
for his footstep and was happy in his presence. He had been bold
enough at the tournament; he had since become somewhat bashful and
constrained. He must be in love, she thought, and wondered how soon he
would speak. If it were so sweet to walk with him in the garden, or
along the shaded streets, to sit with him, to feel the touch of his
hand, what happiness would it not be to hear him say that he loved
her--to bear his name, to live with him always. To be thus loved and
honored by this handsome young man,--she could hardly believe it
possible. He wou