the same.

"I will come," he replied, looking unbendingly, with steely gray eyes,
into her white passionless face, framed in its dark hood.

She bowed her head--further words were impossible--and turned to the
door.

He watched her tugging in blind stupefaction at the strange bolt, but
did not move to her assistance. Her head was bent low over the intricate
thing; but it was useless,--it would not move, and she suddenly raised
her eyes beseechingly to him; with a great revulsion of feeling he saw
that they were swimming in tears. His own lips trembled, and his heart
gave a wild leap. Then one of those unaccountable moods that sometimes
masters the best swayed him strongly.

She was alone with him there; he could keep her if he wished. One look
at her lovely, beloved face, and his higher manhood asserted itself. He
unlatched the door, and still holding it closed, said in a deferential
tone,--

"Will you not wait till I ring for my carriage?"

"I would rather go at once."

Nothing was left but for him to comply with her wishes; and as she
walked out, he quickly got himself into his proper vestments, seized a
vial from his office, and hurried after her. At this juncture the storm
was frightful. Up the street he could see come one trying ineffectually
to move on. Being a powerful man, he strode on, though the great gusts
carried his breath away. In a few minutes he came alongside of Ruth, who
was making small progress.

"Will you take my arm?" he asked quietly. "It will help you."

She drew back in alarm.

"There is no necessity," he indistinctly heard in the roar of the gale.

He kept near enough to her, however, to see her. All along this block of
Van Ness Avenue is a row of tall, heavy-foliaged eucalyptus-trees;
they tossed and creaked and groaned in the furious wind. A violent gust
almost took the two pedestrians off their feet, but not too quickly for
Dr. Kemp to make a stride toward Ruth and drag her back. At the same
moment, one of the trees lurched forward and fell with a crash upon
them. By a great effort he had turned and, holding her before him,
received the greater blow upon his back.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, bending his head so near her face that his
short wet beard brushed her cheek.

"No," she said, wresting herself from him; "I thank you--but you have
hurt yourself."

"You are mistaken," he said abruptly. "Take my arm, please."

He did not wait for her yea or nay; but drawing her arm th