hey will see that I have gone, and will soon
find me here."

Without any preface I came straight to the asking of the bald, crude
question which was in my mind to ask.

"For the sake of--our friendship, Miss Cunningham, forgive me, and tell
me whether you love Carson Wildred?"

She started and quivered almost as though I had struck her a blow, and
her large, frightened eyes studied mine for a long second without
answering. Then she said, simply, "No, my friend, I do not--love him."

"Yet you have promised to marry him?"

"Yes."

"And you mean to carry out that promise?"

"Yes, unless----"

"Unless what?"

"Something--happens to prevent me."

"If you do not love him something _shall_ prevent. Let me help you.
For heaven's sake, let me! Only give me an idea how it can best be
done--I ask no more. I will teach you what such a--friendship as mine
can have the power to do."

I hoped to give her courage by the passion and force of my words, but,
strangely enough, the bright eagerness died out of her face as I spoke.
In some way I had missed saying the thing which might have comforted
her. If I had only known--if I had only known!

"You are very kind," she said, gently and sadly. "I am not looking
forward to any great degree of happiness in my life, but I daresay,
after all, I shall get on as well as most women. I don't think anything
_will_ happen to prevent--what we were speaking of."

"Why, is it to come so soon, then?" I questioned, impetuously.

"In six weeks. It was all arranged to-day"--with a soft little sigh at
the end of her sentence.

"Tell me this: Are you in any way being forced into the marriage?"

"Not by people--exactly. Only by _circumstances_. I--I can't tell
you any more, though, believe me, I am grateful for all you mean, and
all you would do for friendship's sake." There seemed a faint ring of
stifled bitterness in the last three words, though wherefore it should
come I knew not. If she had resented the warmth of my "friendship" after
our brief acquaintance, what would she feel, I dimly wondered, should I
forget myself, and be coward and fool enough to tell her of my mad love
on the very day of her betrothal to another man?

With all my strength I held my tongue under control, and heaven knows it
was no easy victory, with those sweet eyes looking into mine!

"Tell me what _could_ prevent it?" I persisted imploringly. "If you
found that he was unworthy, would that----"

She half smi