ing you could do, my son, that
would make death easier to me. I--I could die happy if you would do as I
ask.'

"'I promise you beforehand, mother,' he cried, 'if there is anything
which I can do, it shall be done.'

"Feebly her hand crept toward mine and drew it toward Jack's, clasping
them both together.

"'She has saved your life, my boy,' she whispered, 'and she has been as
faithful as an angel to me--unto the last of mine. If you care for your
mother's wishes, ask her to marry you, here and now. I love her as
dearly as my life, Jack. My one wish in this world is to see you wedded
to each other. You must say "Yes" or "No."'

"He buried his head in his hands, and I could see his stalwart form
shake like a reed in a blast.

"He hesitated, but only for an instant. Slowly he raised his head, and I
could see that his face was as white as death, in the dim-shaded light
of the lamp. Then slowly he stretched out his hand toward me.

"'You know of my past, Jessie,' he said, huskily, 'and you know that my
life-hopes were blasted. Will you take me under these conditions--if not
for my sake, for--for my mother's?'

"I could not tell you the emotions that swept through my heart in that
one moment of time.

"I do not know in what words I answered him; but, even without scarcely
realizing what I did, my hand crept into his strong, cold one, and I
nodded my head. I could not have spoken to have saved my life--my heart
was too full for utterance.

"Mrs. Garner did not die that night, and she has always said ever since
that she believed that promise brought her back from the gates of death
to be a living witness to our happiness.

"Three months passed, with, oh! such unspeakable joy for me. My lover
was all that a lover could be; still, there were times when I thought
Jack's heart was not in his words, but was far away with the girl who
had so cruelly jilted him.

"At length the wedding invitations were printed and sent out, and only a
week later the terrible _denouement_ came that has shattered all my
hopes.

"I was about to enter Mrs. Garner's _boudoir_ one night, when I heard
the sound of voices.

"Playfully I drew back, for I had recognized Jack's voice. I had a
little gift for him, and I was hesitating a moment as to whether I
should take it in and lay it on his lap, or wait until the next morning
and give it to him in the library. Jack was pacing up and down, and I
saw through the door, which was slightly ajar,