down the beach, waiting for
you to come to me. You would not _dare_ fail me if you
knew all that depends upon my seeing you.

"Yours, in haste and in waiting,

"VICTOR."

"Great Heaven!" muttered Sally, "how _can_ I go to him after the stormy
interview I have just had with my husband? It is utterly impossible, as
we go from here within the hour. I ought to say good-bye to the poor
fellow. But what if Jay should be out on the beach, or on the piazza, or
in the office, and see me slip out of the hotel? He would be sure to
follow me, and then there would be a scene, perhaps a fight."

Again and again she read the note, which she was twisting about her
white fingers.

We all know what happens to the woman who hesitates--she is lost.

She touched the bell with nervous fingers.

"Antoinette," she said, when her French maid appeared, "I should like to
borrow your cloak, hat, and veil for a little while. One does not always
like to be known when one goes out on a mission of charity."

"Certainly, madame," replied Antoinette. "Take anything I have in
welcome. But, oh, dear me, my smartest jacket will look wofully clumsy
on madame's lovely form!"

"Help me on with them quickly, my good girl," cut in Sally, nervously;
"and if any one asks for me when I am out--no matter who it is--say that
I have lain down with a severe headache, and can not on any account, be
disturbed."

In a few moments more, a trim, dainty figure was gliding swiftly along
the beach, heavily veiled and all alone.

Yes, he was there waiting for her. There was no mistaking that splendid
figure, which was attracting the attention of so many young girls and
their chaperons.

With a sweep of her white hand, Sally put back her veil, and stood
before him in the garb of her French maid.

For an instant, this unexpected discovery and the remembrance of the
remark he had but just uttered recurred to him, and a dull red swept
over his face.

"Mrs. Gardiner--Sally!" he cried, rapturously, "I--I was just about to
give the woman to whom I intrusted that note to give to your Antoinette
a fine setting out."

"Let us walk leisurely along," he suggested. "We will then be less
likely to attract attention. I was anxious to know if you reached your
apartments in safety," he went on in his most winning tone; but before
she had time to reply, he went on quickly: "I was not so fortunate in
escaping recognition. I no sooner stepped into the offi