y. There was nothing. Simply because Gloria had come, had
laughed into his eyes, and had gone on. She was like the springtime
which came dancing into the mountains which softened them and brightened
them--and laughed and passed on and away. She would be laughing
now--into Gratton's eyes.

He would never see her again after to-night. Other men had loved and
their loves had crumbled to ashes, blown away by the winds of time. But
to-night he _would_ see her. The last time. While still she was Gloria
Gaynor and not Gratton's wife----

He started and hurried toward the house. They were waiting for Jim and
Jim had hurried. He came to the porch and, with never a board to creak
under his careful tread, he made his way silently around to the
living-room side of the house. There was a window there; the shade was
not drawn; the curtains were blowing back and forth. He drew close and
stood, watching. He would look at Gloria one last time, turning away
just before the preacher said the last words; it was like looking for
the last time on a beloved face before the sod fell----

He saw her. Her back was turned to him; her head was down. He watched
her fingers moving nervously at her sides and his brow contracted with a
sudden access of pain. Those fingers had touched his and he had thrilled
to the soft, warm contact; he loved them better than he loved life. And
soon they would find their way into Gratton's.

Not once did he move his eyes from her. She did not turn toward him, but
as the "judge" began talking she lifted her head and King saw her
throat, her cheek. How pale she was----

Though her head was up, her slim body drooped. Like a little wildwood
flower wilting. So she remained for what seemed a very long time. Then
suddenly he saw her body stiffen; her hands flew to her breast. The
"judge," hurrying along, had asked:

"And do you take this man to be your wedded husband?"

King did not want to hear the answer; he turned to go. But hear now he
must, for though until now responses had been low-voiced, hardly above a
murmur, he heard Gloria crying:

"_No! No and no and no_!"

King stopped like a man paralysed. Had he gone mad? Then his pulses
leaped and hammered. Gloria had cried "_No_!" A tremor shook him; he
could no longer see her, but he stood where he was, his senses keyed to
hear a falling pin within.

"He is a beast and I hate him!" cried Gloria wildly. "He tried to trick
me and trap me. He tried to make me marr