enacted that the young man sustained a much nearer
relation to you."

"He does!" flashed out Violet, as she boldly faced both the intruders,
and reckless of the consequences of the avowal; "he is my affianced
husband!"

"Violet!" almost screamed her sister, as she sprang forward and seized
the young girl by the arm. "Are you crazy?"

"Pardon me, madame," said Wallace, courteously, as he advanced toward
the group, "and pray give me your attention for a moment while I explain
what may seem an unpardonable intrusion, and for which I am wholly to
blame."

"No," interrupted Violet, releasing herself from her sister's grasp; "I
alone am responsible for what has occurred this evening. Mr. Richardson,
in an unguarded moment, revealed to me the fact that he entertained an
affection for me such as I have long known, exists in my own heart for
him. I responded to it----"

"Shameless girl!" ejaculated Mrs. Mencke, in an angry tone.

"No, Belle, I am not a shameless girl. I simply gave truthful expression
to an attachment in return for a confession that gave me great
happiness, and notwithstanding that Mr. Richardson told me he would not
bind me by any promise until, as he expressed it, he should be in a
suitable position to warrant him in asking my hand of you, I told him
outright that my acknowledgment of affection was as binding with me as
any promise----"

"Mr. and Mrs. Mencke," Wallace now interposed, "I cannot allow your
sister to assume the responsibility of all this, for it is really my
place to shield her. I love her with all the strength of my nature, and
I now formally ask you, as her guardians, to sanction the compact we
have made this evening."

"Never!" emphatically retorted Mrs. Mencke, in her haughtiest tone.

"It is not worth while to discuss such an impossible proposition, and
you will best suit us, young man, by making yourself scarce without more
ado," supplemented Mr. Mencke, with a menacing air.

"Belle! Wilhelm!--do you call yourself a lady, a gentleman, and dare to
insult a friend of mine in your own house?" cried Violet, quivering with
indignation, her eyes glittering like coals of fire.

Mrs. Mencke began to realize that they were arousing a spirit which
might be difficult to manage; consequently she deemed it advisable to
adopt a different course.

"We have no wish to insult any one, Violet," she began, with dignity,
but in a more conciliatory tone; "but of course we are very much
astonish