the queen she would feel herself to be when once she bore his name.
Patience then, till she had stored her mind and learned the ways he was
accustomed to in others. She had money enough now that her uncle was
dead, and she could do things....

Yes, but something had gone out of her face, and the ring hung loose on
her finger.

* * * * *

And he? Had her fears read him aright? Had he grown indifferent or was
he simply perplexed? Let us watch him as he paces his hotel room one
glorious afternoon, now stopping to re-read a letter he held in his hand,
and now to gaze out with unseeing eyes to where the blue of the sea melts
into the blue of the sky on the far horizon.

Love had been sweet; but man has other passions, and he is in the grip of
the one mightiest in men of his stamp--the all-engrossing, all-demanding
one of personal ambition.

Without solicitation, without expectation even, a hand had been held out
to him whose least grasp meant success in the one field most to his
mind,--a political career under auspices which had never been known to
fail. But there were conditions attached--conditions which a year before
would have filled him with joy, but which now stood like a barrier
between him and his goal, unless.... But he was not yet ready to disavow
his wife, trample upon her heart, nay on his own as well;--that is,
without a struggle.

For the third time he read the letter which you will see was from his
mother.

My Son:--I have an apology to make and a bit of news to give you. When
I urged you to give up Lucie and to seek distraction abroad, I felt
that I was doing justice to your immaturity and saving you from ties
which might very easily jeopardize your future happiness.

But I have lately changed my mind. In seeing more of her I have not
only learned her worth but the advantage such a woman would be to one
of your tastes and promise. And she loves you more devotedly, perhaps,
than you have loved her. How do I know this? Let me tell you of an
interview I had with a certain relative of hers last night. I allude to
her brother, and for a recognized boss buried out of sight in politics,
he has more heart in his breast than I have ever given him credit for.
Not having children of his own, he has centered his affections on this
choice little sister of his, and finding her far from happy, came to
see me yesterday evening with this proposition: If I wo