ence while
an express train rushed by, and the shock and noise almost stunned me. It
was a miracle that I was not killed, but I did not think of that until
afterwards. I was conscious only of the train I had left standing by the
station. I glanced back once, and thought I saw Richard come to the door
of the car. Then I stumbled on blindly. I don't remember any more until I
found myself hurrying along that dark passage under the bridge and saw you
just ahead. I was afraid to speak to you, but I did not know what else to
do, and you were so good to me----!" Her voice broke in a little sob.

All the time she had been talking, he had held her hand firmly. She had
forgotten that any one might be watching; he did not care.

The tall girl with the discontented upper lip went to the matron and told
her that she thought the man and the woman in the parlor ought to be made
to go. She believed the man was trying to coax the girl to do something
she didn't want to do. The matron started on a voyage of discovery up the
hall and down again, with penetrating glances into the room, but the two
did not see her.

"Oh, my poor dear little girl!" breathed the man. "And you have passed
through all this awful experience alone! Why did you not tell me about
it? I could have helped you. I am a lawyer."

"I thought you would be on your guard at once and watch for evidences of
my insanity. I thought perhaps you would believe it true, and would feel
it necessary to return me to my friends. I think I should have been
tempted to do that, perhaps, if any one had come to me with such a story."

"One could not do that after seeing and talking with you. I never could
have believed it. Surely no reputable physician would lend his influence
to put you in an asylum, yet I know such things have been done. Your
cousin must be a desperate character. I shall not feel safe until you
belong to me. I saw two men hanging about Mr. Phillips's house last
evening as I went in. They were looking up at the windows and talking
about keeping a close watch on some one named Mary. One of the men was
tall and slight and handsome, with dark hair and eyes; the other was
Irish, and wore a coat too large for him, and rubbers. I went back later
in the evening, and the Irishman was hovering about the house."

The girl looked up with frightened eyes and grasped the arms of her chair
excitedly.

"Will you go with me now to a church not far away, where a friend of mine
is th