e answered, in a low voice; "but I love you, Guy, and the future
shall be as you wish."

"I am glad you have no rings on to-night, Dexie," said Guy, as he took a
little parcel from his pocket. "You have one that has troubled my peace of
mind for some time, but I have something to take its place," and as he took
her hand in his the flash of a ring told Dexie his intention.

"Oh, Guy! wait! I cannot let you put that on yet. I am afraid to trust
myself that much to-night; it is all so sudden, Guy!"

"My darling! what do you fear? You are not afraid to trust yourself to my
keeping when you know I love you?" and he drew her closer, as he looked
down into her eyes.

"No, Guy, but it is all so new and strange that I hardly know myself. You
know I accepted a ring once before when I ought not to have done so, but I
wore it honestly lately, Guy; I did, truly."

"Tell me about it, Dexie, and clear up the mystery. The ring has a story,
one that has given me much trouble of mind."

"I think your trouble was imaginary, Guy," smiling. "The ring, in the first
place, did not signify an engagement, though it was the sign of a promise
which Lancy Gurney and I made to each other. He was to ask me again to
marry him at the end of a year, unless during that time we found there was
someone else we liked better. As you know, I did not wait for the year to
be up before I asked to be released. Oh, yes, I confessed that I had met
someone that had the first place in my heart," she blushingly admitted.

"And you told him what you would not tell me! Oh, Dexie!"

"Yes, for I promised him I would be honest with him. This led to
explanations on both sides, and to assure him I still felt kindly towards
him I agreed to keep and wear his ring. I wore it gladly, because it
reminded me I was free to love where I chose; besides it helped to keep you
from guessing that I had given my love without the asking. That is all,
Guy, so you see the words engraved inside are honest and true."

"My dear little wife! but how could I guess that the ring meant so much
happiness to me. It did indeed deceive me, but this shall tell the truth
from the start."

"I do wish you had not bought it--just yet. Everyone will make remarks
about it. Something plainer would not proclaim our secret to the world as
this will surely do."

"Yet I thought it not good enough for the dear hand that was to wear it.
Let me put it on, Dexie. Think how many times I shall see you when t