said with solemn resignation, "it's something
to know the particular type of beauty that I am."

Suddenly they both burst into merry laughter.

"But I'm really in earnest," she protested. "For you really are
good-looking!"

He leaned forward, caught her two hands in his powerful grasp and
almost crushed his lips against them.

"Perhaps it's just as well you don't mind my face, dear," he
half-whispered, "for, you know, you're going to see a lot of it."

She flushed, and her whole being seemed to swim in happiness. They did
not speak for a time; and she sat gazing with warm, luminous eyes into
his rugged, determined face, now so soft, so tender.

But suddenly her look became very grave, for the question of the
morning had recurred to her. Should she not give him up?

"May I speak about something serious?" she asked with an effort.
"Something very serious?"

"About anything in the world!" said he.

"It's something I was thinking about this morning, and all day," she
said. "I'm afraid I haven't been very thoughtful of you. And I'm
afraid you haven't been very thoughtful of yourself."

"How?"

"We've been together quite often of late."

"Not often enough!"

"But often enough to set people talking."

"Let 'em talk!"

"But you must remember----"

"Let's stop their tongues," he interrupted.

"How?"

"By announcing our engagement." He gripped her hands. "For we are
engaged, aren't we?"

"I--I don't know," she breathed.

"Don't know?" He stared at her. "Why, you're white as a sheet! You're
not in earnest?"

"Yes."

"What does this mean?"

"I--I had started to tell you. You must remember that I am an
unpopular person, and that in my father I am representing an unpopular
man. And you must remember that you are candidate for mayor."

He had begun to get her drift.

"Well?"

"Well, I am afraid our being together will lessen your chances. And I
don't want to do anything in the world that will injure you."

"Then you think----"

"I think--I think"--she spoke with difficulty--"we should stop seeing
each other."

"For my sake?"

"Yes."

He bent nearer and looked her piercingly in the eyes.

"But for your own sake?" he demanded.

She did not speak.

"But for your own sake?" he persisted.

"For my sake--for my sake----" Half-choked, she broke off.

"Honest now? Honest?"

She did not realize till that moment all it would mean to her to see
him no more.

"For my own sake----" Suddenly