"What I want! Rather! I should think so! As I told Nell----"

"Where is Nell, by the way?" cut in Drake, with all a lover's

impatience.

Dick looked rather taken aback.

"Oh--ah--that is--I say, you know, what's this shindy between you and

Nell?" he said, with a somewhat uneasy grin.

"Shindy? What do you mean?" demanded Drake.

Dick began to look uncomfortable.

"I don't know anything about it," he said hesitatingly, "only what she

told me. She was awfully upset this morning; red-eyed and white about

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the gills, and all I could understand was that it was 'all over' between

you." He grinned again, but more uncomfortably. "Of course, I knew it

was only a lovers' tiff--'make it up and kiss again,' don't you know."

His voice and the grin died away under the change in Drake's expressive

countenance.

"What is the matter, anyway?" he demanded. "Is there a real quarrel?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," said Drake, speaking as a man

speaks when a cold fear is beginning to creep about his heart.

"Well, I don't know myself," said Dick desperately. "Oh, I've got a

letter for you somewhere--perhaps that will explain. Now, what did I do

with it? Oh, I know! Wait a moment!"

He ran into the house, and Drake waited, mechanically stroking his

horse's sweating neck.

Dick came out and held out a letter.

"She gave me this for you."

Drake opened the letter, and read: "DEAR DRAKE: I may call you so for the last time. I am writing to tell

you that our engagement must come to an end. I have found that I have,

that we both have, made a mistake. You, who are so quick to understand,

will know, even as you read this, that I have discovered all that you

have kept secret from me, and that, now I know it all, it is impossible,

quite impossible, that I should----" Here a line was hastily scratched

through. "I want you to believe that I don't blame you in the least; it

is quite impossible that I could care for you any longer, or that I

could consent to remain your promised wife; indeed, I am sorry, very,

very sorry, that we should have met. If I had known all that I know now,

I would rather have died than have let you speak a word of love to me.

"So it is 'good-by' forever. Please do not make it harder for me by

writing to me or attempting to see me--but I know that you have cared,

perhaps still care enough for me not to do so. Nothing would induce me

to renew our engagement, though I shall always think kindly of you, and

wish you well. I return the ring you gave me. You will let me keep the

silver pencil as a souvenir of one who will always remain as, but can

never be more than, a friend.




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