under the thin summer covering of the bed with
ghastly and suggestive significance. Instantly she wanted to go down by
his side and with her arms about him give him the sympathy and comfort his
lonely heart craved, but because it was so deliciously tempting she
distrusted the impulse and, turning hastily, walked out of the room and
out of the house, going on a run to her refuge in the willows. But though
she agonized till dark she found herself no nearer a solution than
before.

Hugh felt the distance Elizabeth maintained and also the fact that she was
not well. How he hated it when she had to lift him for his medicine.
Doctor Morgan had especially talked about her lifting when she was at
first convalescing. His heart was very bad that night.

About three o'clock the next afternoon Elizabeth tiptoed in to see if he
slept.

"I'm awake," he said without opening his eyes.

Always when Hugh did not open his eyes Elizabeth was filled with
premonitions. He was very pinched and wan to-day. With a pain at her own
heart, Elizabeth brought a fresh glass of water for his medicine. She had
to speak to him to get him ready to take it from her hand. Kneeling, she
put her arm under the pillow to raise his head while he drank.

Hugh fumbled with the little bottle as he tried to return the extra disks
he had accidentally poured out into his hand. Elizabeth waited till he had
the cork in place, with her arm still under the pillow. He turned his face
toward her as he thrust the bottle back, and accidentally touched her hand
under his head. He glanced up consciously. Her breath, fresh, warm, full
of the life man adores, came to him from her parted lips, and to get away
from the impulse to say things he was resolved not to say, he closed his
eyes and turned his head feebly.

A gasp of fright came from the girl as she saw the contortion of his
haggard face.

"Hugh!" she exclaimed.

The glass she held fell from her fingers and rolled to the foot of the
bed, scattering its contents abroad unobserved, as she threw her other arm
across him and lifted him for the air she supposed he needed. Their
breaths mingled. Human nature is but human nature, man is but man and
woman is but woman in the final analysis: they were in the hands of a fate
stronger than either of them at that moment.

Elizabeth struggled no more; right or wrong, it had happened, and she
brought her rocking chair and with her free hand clasped in his, read and
took life