and she admitted that he has
already made her cry. I feel very sorry for her, for I did not know when I
began this letter why Hugh was so put out at your marriage, but I do now,
and I think that since you would not have Lancy it is a good thing that you
are safely married; but take care that Hugh does not run away with you some
day. He is quite equal to it yet."

"There is no danger of that," said Guy, referring to the concluding
passage. "I can read another story between the lines of Elsie's letter, and
I think, dear, that Hugh's wife will not blame you if her marriage should
not prove a happy one."

"I hope you are right, Guy; but how could I bear it if I thought you
married me just because I resembled someone that you knew and loved, but
could not marry," and she put her arms around his neck and looked into his
eyes.

"But you know that my heart has been yours since I first saw you, so why
need you borrow trouble, my little wife? There! lie still in my arms and
rest content," drawing her close to his breast with a tenderness that gave
a fresh assurance of his love.

"Do you know, Dexie, dear," he added presently, "something in that letter
tells me that Hugh explained everything to Nina before he married her, and
she could have refused him if she objected to the conditions. Hugh's money
would overbalance many difficulties, and I have no doubt that Mrs. Gordon
urged her daughter to accept him, with a full knowledge of his reasons for
wishing to marry her. I feel sure that Nina is willing and anxious to
please Hugh, and he may yet find much happiness in the society of your
double. Few men would care to do such a thing, I admit, but if he finds any
solace in his disappointment in surrounding himself with things that are
dear to his memory and in making his wife a second Dexie, it is well."

POSTSCRIPT.

Having happily married my heroine and disposed of her lovers, it occurs to
me that I have reached the place where story-writers usually make a big
flourish, write "Finis," and then lay down the pen.

But the story of a person's life does not end with marriage, as some would
have us think, for marriage generally brings out one's best qualities or
develops the worst, and is sure to make or mar the life of every woman;
consequently, this story is not yet finished. Yet why should I trouble
myself to write out the remainder of it until I have discovered if the
reading public are interested in Dexie's life so far