cheek paled. He
reeled and would have fallen, for he had not seated himself, but he
clutched the mantel for support. In a moment he mastered himself
sufficiently to say hoarsely:

"I do not blame you! I am a nameless vagabond, and have been
presumptuous! Good-bye!"

He turned away and was leaving the apartment swiftly, when his steps
were arrested by a cry that thrilled him through with joy that was as
painful as his sorrow had been.

"Leon! Leon! I love you!" Agnes cried, arresting his departure, and,
as he turned and came again towards her, she was standing upright, and
herself made the movement which gave him the privilege of embracing
her.

By a singular chance, while they were thus enfolded in love's first
rapturous clasp, and therefore oblivious of all the world except
themselves, Judge Dudley, who had not yet left the house, entered the
room. He saw them, but they did not observe him. Instantly he realized
that the Doctor's scheme had borne fruition. He hesitated but for a
moment, and then, stepping lightly, he went out of the room, and
departed from the house.

How often do our joys and sorrows approach us hand in hand? There
comes a moment fraught with bliss; the draught is at our lips, and we
take one lingering sip of ecstasy, when on a sudden the brimming glass
is dashed aside, and a cloud of misery enshrouds us round about! Thus
it happened to Leon.

After an hour of joyous converse with Agnes, now "his Agnes," he
started for home. Arriving there, he ran lightly up the steps, as if
treading on air. He was whistling a merry tune, as he opened the door
of his room, and closed it again having entered. His mind was filled
with ecstatic anticipation of what the future had in store for him. It
did not seem possible that anything could happen to disturb the sweet
current of his thoughts. Yet a moment later he was arrested by the
sound of a moan, an agonizing groan that filled his heart with dread.
Again it was repeated, and immediately he knew that it was Lossy, who
was suffering. He stooped and looked under the bed. There, indeed, was
his fond animal friend, but around his mouth there was an ominous mass
of foam. Had the poor beast gone mad? With a pang of anxiety, Leon
drew the bedstead away from the wall, and went behind it to where
Lossy had dragged himself. One glance into the dog's eyes turned up to
meet his with all the loving intelligence of his customary greeting,
and Leon dismissed the idea of r