Do you know, I thought that
trouble last summer--over Clarence--was going to hurt you more. How is
it, Beth?"

She hesitated a moment.

"I don't believe I really loved him, father," she said, in a quiet tone,
"I thought I did. I thought it was going to break my heart that night I
found out he loved Marie. But, somehow, I don't mind. I think it is far
better as it is. Oh, daddy, dear, it's so nice I can tell you things
like this. I don't believe all girls can talk to their fathers this
way. But I--I always wanted to be loved--and Clarence was different from
other people in Briarsfield, you know, and I suppose I thought we were
meant for each other."

Dr. Woodburn did not answer at once.

"I don't think you would have been happy with him, Beth," he said, after
a little. "All has been for the best. I was afraid you didn't know what
love meant when you became engaged to him. It was only a school-girl's
fancy."

"Beth, I am going to tell you something," he said a moment later, as he
stroked her hair. "People believe that I always took a special interest
in Arthur Grafton because his father saved my life when we were boys,
but that was not the only reason I loved him. Years ago, down along the
Ottawa river, Lawrence Grafton was pastor in the town where I had my
first practice. He was a grand fellow, and we were the greatest friends.
I used to take him to see my patients often. He was just the one to
cheer them up. Poor fellow! Let's see, it's seventeen years this fall
since he died. It was the first summer I was there, and Lawrence had
driven out into the country with me to see a sick patient. When we were
coming back, he asked me to stop with him at a farm-house, where some
members of his church lived. I remember the place as if I had seen it
yesterday, an old red brick building, with honeysuckle climbing about
the porch and cherry-trees on the lawn. The front door was open, and
there was a flight of stairs right opposite, and while we waited for an
answer to the bell a beautiful woman, tall and graceful, paused at the
head of the stairs above us, and then came down. To my eyes she was the
most beautiful woman I had ever seen, Beth. She was dressed in white,
and had a basket of flowers on her arm. She smiled as she came towards
us. Her hair was glossy-black, parted in the middle, and falling in
waves about her smooth white forehead; but her eyes were her real
beauty, I never saw anything like them, Beth. They were such