ugh to tell her what my feelings
were--to urge and implore her for immediate acceptance of my vows.

This was my fixed resolve; but when, where, and how? I could not go to
the house again for two days, and, during two days, Jack would have the
advantage. No doubt he would at once reply to that last letter of hers.
No doubt he would fling away every thought but the one thought of her.
No doubt he would write her a letter full of protestations of love, and
implore her, for the last time, to fly with him. He had done so before.
In his new mood he might do it again. The thought made ay blood run
cold. The more I dwelt upon it, the more confident I was that Jack
would do this.

And what could I do?

One of two ways could be adopted:

First, I might go there on the following day, and call on Miss
O'Halloran. Her father would be away.

And, secondly, I might write her a letter.

But neither of these plans seemed satisfactory. In the first place, I
did not feel altogether prepared to go and call on her for such a
purpose. It came on a fellow too suddenly. In the second place, a
letter did not seem to be the proper style of thing. The fact is, when
a fellow seeks a lady, he ought to do it face to face, if possible.

The more I thought of it, the more strongly I felt the absolute
necessity of waiting for those two days which should intervene before I
could go. Then I might go on a regular invitation. Then I might have an
additional opportunity of finding out her sentiments toward me. In
fact, I concluded to wait.

And so I waited.

The two days passed slowly. Jack, of course, kept aloof, and I saw
nothing and heard nothing of him. Where he was, or what he was doing, I
could not tell. I could only conjecture. And all my conjectures led to
the fixed conviction that Jack in his desperation had written to her,
and proposed flight.

This conviction became intensified more and more every hour. I grew
more and more impatient. My mood became one of constant and incessant
fidgetiness, nervousness, and harrowing suspense.

CHAPTER XXIV.

TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT.--THE HOUR APPROACHES, AND WITH IT THE MAN.--THE
LADY OF THE ICE.--A TUMULTUOUS MEETING.--OUTPOURING OF TENDER
EMOTIONS.--AGITATION OF THE LADY.--A SUDDEN INTERRUPTION.--AN INJURED
MAN, AN AWFUL, FEARFUL, DIREFUL, AND UTTERLY-CRUSHING REVELATION.--WHO
IS THE LADY OF THE ICE?

At last the appointed evening came, and I prepared to go to
O'Halloran's. By this