wn to
a beautiful woman. He was winning, lovable, yet back of all his charm
there was that great quality of strength, of austere purpose.

He made a hit with every one, and I verily believe that half the women
in the town were in love with him. However, he was quite unconscious of
it, and he stalked through the streets with the gait of a young god. I
knew there were some who for a smile would have followed him to the ends
of the earth, but Garry was always a man's man. Never do I remember the
time when he took an interest in a woman. I often thought, if women
could have the man of their choice, a few handsome ones like Garry would
monopolise them, while we common mortals would go wifeless. Sometimes it
has seemed to me that love is but a second-hand article, and that our
matings are at best only makeshifts.

I must say I tried very hard to reconcile those two. I threw them
together on every opportunity, for I wanted him to understand and to
love her. I felt he had but to know her to appreciate her at her true
value, and, although he spoke no word to me, I was soon conscious of a
vast change in him. Short of brotherly regard, he was everything that
could be desired to her--cordial, friendly, charming. Once I asked Berna
what she thought of him.

"I think he's splendid," she said quietly. "He's the handsomest man I've
ever seen, and he's as nice as he's good-looking. In many ways you
remind me of him--and yet there's a difference."

"I remind you of him--no, girl. I'm not worthy to be his valet. He's as
much above me as I am above--say a siwash. He has all the virtues; I,
all the faults. Sometimes I look at him and I see in him my ideal self.
He is all strength, all nobility, while I am but a commonplace mortal,
full of human weaknesses. He is the self I should have been if the worst
had been the best."

"Hush! you are my sweetheart," she assured me with a caress, "and the
dearest in the world."

"By the way, Berna," I said, "you remember something we talked about
before he came? Don't you think that now----?"

"Now----?"

"Yes."

"All right." She flashed a glad, tender look at me and left the room.
That night she was strangely elated.

Every evening Garry would drop in and talk to us. Berna would look at
him as he talked and her eyes would brighten and her cheeks flush. On
both of us he had a strangely buoyant effect. How happy we could be,
just we three. It was splendid having near me the two I loved best o