oming
lower and more serious; there were slight breaks once or twice in the
conversation; Myrtle had cast down her eyes.

"There is but one word more to add," he murmured softly, as he bent
towards her--

A grave voice interrupted him. "Excuse me, Mr. Bradshaw," said Master
Bytes Gridley, "I wish to present a young gentleman to my friend here. I
promised to show him the most charming young person I have the honor to
be acquainted with, and I must redeem my pledge. Miss Hazard, I have the
pleasure of introducing to your acquaintance my distinguished young
friend, Mr. Clement Lindsay."

Once mere, for the third time, these two young persons stood face to
face. Myrtle was no longer liable to those nervous seizures which any
sudden impression was liable to produce when she was in her half-hysteric
state of mind and body. She turned to the new-comer, who found himself
unexpectedly submitted to a test which he would never have risked of his
own will. He must go through it, cruel as it was, with the easy
self-command which belongs to a gentleman in the most trying social
exigencies. He addressed her, therefore, in the usual terms of courtesy,
and then turned and greeted Mr. Bradshaw, whom he had never met since
their coming together at Oxbow Village. Myrtle was conscious, the
instant she looked upon Clement Lindsay, of the existence of some
peculiar relation between them; but what, she could not tell. Whatever
it was, it broke the charm which had been weaving between her and Murray
Bradshaw. He was not foolish enough to make a scene. What fault could
he find with Clement Lindsay, who had only done as any gentleman would do
with a lady to whom he had just been introduced, addressed a few polite
words to her? After saying those words, Clement had turned very
courteously to him, and they had spoken with each other. But Murray
Bradshaw could not help seeing that Myrtle had transferred her attention,
at least for the moment, from him to the new-comer. He folded his arms
and waited,--but he waited in vain. The hidden attraction which drew
Clement to the young girl with whom he had passed into the Valley of the
Shadow of Death overmastered all other feelings, and he gave himself up
to the fascination of her presence.

The inward rage of Murray Bradshaw at being interrupted just at the
moment when he was, as he thought, about to cry checkmate and finish the
first great game he had ever played may well be imagined. B