tate.
Remembering that it was through him that her blessed freedom from Emil
Correlli and her present happiness had come, she forced herself to
respond in a gentle tone:

"I have always felt, Mr. Goddard, that you were not fully conscious of
what you were saying to me at that time."

"I was not," he eagerly returned, his face lighting a trifle that she
should judge him thus leniently. "I had been drinking too much; still,
that fact should, perhaps, also be a cause for shame. Pray assure me
of your pardon for what I can never forgive myself."

"Certainly; I have no right to withhold it, in view of your apology,"
she responded.

"Thank you; and--and may I presume to ask you one question more?" he
pleaded.

Edith's heart leaped into her throat at this, for she was impressed
with a knowledge and a dread of what was coming.

For the moment she could not speak--she could only bow her assent to
his request.

"I want to ask if--if, since you left my house, you have learned
anything regarding my previous history?" he inquired, with pale lips.

"Yes," she said, sadly, "I know it all. My mother told me only because
I demanded the truth. She would have preferred to keep some things
from me, for your sake as well as mine, but I could not be satisfied
with any partial disclosure."

"How you must hate me!" the man burst forth, while great drops of
agony gathered about his mouth.

He had never believed that a human being could suffer as he suffered
at that moment, in knowing that by his own vileness he had forever
barred himself outside the affections of this lovely girl, toward whom
he had always--since the first hour of their meeting--been strangely
attracted, and whose love and respect, now that he knew she was his
own child, seemed the most priceless boons that earth could hold for
him.

At first Edith could make no reply to his passionate outburst.

"No," she said, at last, and lifting a regretful look to him, "I hope
that there is not an atom of 'hate' in my heart toward any human
being, especially toward any one who might experience an honest,
though late, repentance for misdeeds."

"Ah! thank you; then have you not some word of comfort--some message
of peace for me?" tremulously pleaded the once haughty,
self-sufficient man, while he half extended his hands toward her, in a
gesture of entreaty.

Her lips quivered, and tears sprang involuntarily to her eyes, while
it was only after a prolonged effort that she