ade no mention to Jack of what I had learned, but every day it has
eaten into my heart like a worm in the heart of a rose.

"I loved him so well, I was only too willing to hold to him. I did not
have the strength to follow the dictates of my own will; and now, God
help me! the day is drawing nearer and nearer. What shall I do?

"My brain is going mad with the torturous thought that I shall stand at
the altar by the side of a man who does not love me--whose heart is
given to another.

"Every time that he stoops to kiss my lips I am sure he wishes they were
hers.

"His thoughts are with her. I am a mere shadow to his life; she was the
substance.

"People about me look upon me with envy, but you can realize that I am
more to be pitied than the poorest beggar on the street. Tell me," she
cried, eagerly, "do you think any one on this earth ever had a sorrow
equal to mine?"

CHAPTER XXXI.

As the hours wore on, poor Jessie Staples grew so alarmingly worse, and
the fever increased so rapidly, that, despite her entreaties, Dorothy
felt that she must summon medical aid.

Soon after the entire household had gathered about Jessie, in the
greatest alarm.

A physician was sent for at once--Doctor Crandall, whom Mrs. Garner had
known for long years.

It so happened that the doctor lay very ill himself from an attack of
_la grippe_, and, penning a line or so to Mrs. Garner, he explained that
he had sent as a substitute a young doctor whom he had taken into his
office to act for him during his illness. He felt sure they could rest
Miss Staples' case with all safety in his hands.

That was the beginning of the terrible end.

Surely a cruel fate must have brought the situation about. It happened
in this way:

When Harry Kendal had exerted every means to find Dorothy, and had
failed, he commenced to look about for something to do.

It occurred to him that perhaps the best person to whom he could apply
was Doctor Crandall, who had been the life-long friend of his old
benefactor, Doctor Bryan.

Kendal's appeal was not in vain. He was taken in at once. Indeed, his
coming was most opportune, he was told.

It so happened that his very first call was to the home of Mrs. Garner.

"Garner!" The name sounded very familiar to him. His brow darkened as he
heard it. Was not that the name of the young man who had been Dorothy
Glenn's lover when he first met little Dorothy in the book-bindery? Of
course, it was absurd to