eshman, to whom she
was at once attracted. Every time they came she watched them and she
noticed how under his mentor Howard became more hardened. He drank more
and more and became a reckless gambler. Underwood seemed to exercise a
baneful spell over him. She saw that he would soon be ruined with such a
man as Underwood for a constant companion. Her interest in the young
student grew. They became acquainted and Howard, not realizing that she
was older than he, was immediately captivated by her vivacious charm and
her common-sense views. They saw each other more frequently and their
friendship grew until one day Howard asked her to marry him.

While she sometimes blamed herself for having listened too willingly to
Howard's pleadings, she did not altogether regret the step she had
taken. It was most unfortunate that there must be this rupture with his
family, yet something within told her that she was doing God's
work--saving a man's soul. Without her, Howard would have gone swiftly
to ruin, there was little doubt of that. His affection for her had
partly, if not wholly, redeemed him and was keeping him straight. He had
been good to her ever since their marriage and done everything to make
her comfortable. Once he took a position as guard on the elevated road,
but caught cold and was forced to give it up. She wanted to go to work
again, but he angrily refused. That alone showed that he was not
entirely devoid of character. He was unfortunate at present and they
were poor, but by dint of perseverance he would win out and make a
position for himself without his father's help. These were their darkest
days, but light was ahead. As long as they loved each other and had
their health what more was necessary?

"Say, Annie, I have an idea," suddenly blurted out Howard.

"What is it, dear?" she asked, her reveries thus abruptly interrupted.

"I mean regarding that $2,000. You know all about that $250 which I once
lent Underwood. I never got it back, although I've been after him many
times for it. He's a slippery customer. But under the circumstances I
think it's worth another determined effort. He seems to be better fixed
now than he ever was. He's living at the Astruria, making a social
splurge and all that sort of thing. He must have money. I'll try to
borrow the $2,000 from him."

"He certainly appears to be prosperous," replied Annie. "I see his name
in the newspapers all the time. There is hardly an affair at which he is