ust a rotter, so let it go
at that."

"You're nothing of the sort," he exclaimed, seizing her hand. "You're
nothing of the sort!"

"Oh, yes, I am," she said wearily.

"See here, Anne," he said earnestly, "why not take me? If it's a matter of
money, and nothing else, why not take me? That's what I mean. That's just
what I wanted to explain to you. Think it over, Anne. For heaven's sake,
don't go on with the other thing. Chuck it all and--take me. I won't bother
you much. You can have all the money you need--and more, if you ask for it.
Hang it all, I'll settle a stipulated amount upon you before we take
another step. A million, two millions,--I don't care a hang,--only don't
spoil this bright, splendid young life of yours by--Oh, Lordy, it's
incomprehensible!"

She patted the back of his hand, gently, even tremblingly. Her eyes were
very bright and very solemn.

"It has to go on now, Simmy," she said at last.

For a long time they were silent.

"I hope you have got completely over your love for Braden Thorpe," he
said. "But, of course, you have. You don't care for him any more. You
couldn't care for him and go on with this. It wouldn't be human, you
know."

"No, it wouldn't be human," she said, her face rigid.

He was staring intently at the floor. Something vague yet sure was forming
in his brain, something that grew to comprehension before he spoke.

"By Jove, Anne," he muttered, "I am beginning to understand. You wouldn't
marry a _young_ man for his money. It has to be an old man, an incredibly
old man. I see!"

"I would not marry a young man, Simmy, for anything but love," she said
simply. "I would not live for years with a man unless I loved him, be he
poor or rich. Now you have it, my friend. I'm a pretty bad one, eh?"

"No, siree! I'd say it speaks mighty well for you," he cried
enthusiastically. His whimsical smile returned and the points of his
little moustache went up once more. "Just think of waiting for a golden
wedding anniversary with a duffer like me! By Jove, I can see the horror
of that myself. You just couldn't do it. I get your idea perfectly, Anne.
Would it interest you if I were to promise to be extremely reckless with
my life? You see, I'm always taking chances with my automobiles. Had three
or four bad smash-ups already, and one broken arm. I _could_ be a little
more reckless and _very_ careless if you think it would help. I've never
had typhoid or pneumonia. I could go about exposin