I asked. I tossed the knife back on the
mantel, and turned my back to it and them.

"Jack," said my old wire-hair, Doctor Bond, "I pray God I may never see
this done again to any man. I thank God the woman I loved died years
ago. She was too good--they're all too good--I, a physician, say they
are all too good. Only in that gap between them and us lies any margin
which permits you to lie to yourself at the altar. To care for them--to
shield them--they, the apple of the Eye--that is why we men are here."
He turned away, his face working.

"Is it agreed?" I asked of Colonel Sheraton, sternly.

His trembling hand sought mine. "Yes," he said. "Our quarrel is
discharged, and more than so. Harry, shake hands with Mr. Cowles. By
God! men, our quarrel now runs to Gordon Orme. To-morrow we start for
Carolina, where we had his last address. Mr. Cowles, my heart bleeds, it
bleeds, sir, for you. But for her also--for her up there. The courts
shall free you quickly and quietly, as soon as it can be done. It is you
who have freed us all. You have been tried hard. You have proved
yourself a man."

But it was not the courts that freed us. None of us ever sought actual
knowledge of what agency really freed us. Indeed, the time came swiftly
for us all to draw the cloak of secrecy about one figure of this story,
and to shield her in it forever.

Again we were interrupted. The door at the stair burst open. A black
maid, breathless, broke into the room.

[Illustration: WHEN THE WAY OF WOMEN PASSETH A MAN'S UNDERSTANDING]

"She's a-settin' there--Miss Grace just a-settin' there--" she began,
and choked and stammered.

"What is it?" cried Doctor Bond, sharply, and sprang at the door. I
heard him go up the stairs lightly as though he were a boy. We all
followed, plying the girl with questions.

"I went in to make up the room," blubbered she, "an' she was just
settin' there, an' I spoke to her an' she didn't answer--an' I called to
her, an' she didn't answer--she's just a-settin' there right _now_."

As a cloud sweeps over a gray, broken moor, so now horror swept upon us
in our distress and grief. We paused one moment to listen, then went on
to see what we knew we must see.

I say that we men of Virginia were slow to suspect a woman. I hope we
are still slower to gossip regarding one. Not one of us ever asked
Doctor Bond a question, fearing lest we might learn what perhaps he
knew.

He stood beyond her now, his head bowed, his ha