ried Weston, and, stooping over her, he caught one
hand and gripped it almost cruelly.

"Can't you take anything for granted?" Ida asked demurely. "Must one
always explain in full to you?"

She felt the man's arms close about her, and his lips hot on her
cheek; but in another moment he drew away from her.

"But this is madness," he said. "I have nothing. In a few more weeks I
shall be an outcast."

"Ah," said Ida, "you have given me all that counts for anything,
and"--she looked up at him with shining eyes and burning cheeks--"you
belong to me."

He stood silent for several moments, with trouble in his face,
apparently struggling with himself.

"What are you thinking of?" she asked,

Weston raised his head.

"I dare not think," he said. "I've won you by unfair means--and yet,
knowing that, I'm only filled with the exultation of it. Still, this
thing has to be faced and decided now. You know I love you--but is it
right that you should be bound to a man who may never be able to marry
you?"

"Is that any great obstacle," asked Ida, "if I don't object?"

"It is," said Weston, hoarsely. "I want you now."

The girl was almost startled by the change in him. His restraint had
broken down once for all, at last, and she saw by the tension in his
face and the glow in his eyes that his nature was stirred to its
depths. In a moment or two, however, he seemed to succeed in imposing
a partial control upon himself.

"I had meant to come to you only when we had made the mine a success,"
he said.

"To save your pride!--you could think of that?"

Weston laughed harshly.

"My pride--there isn't a shred of it left. But now, at least, the
situation has to be faced."

"Is it so very dreadful?" asked Ida, with a smile. "You have told me
that you love me. Is that a thing to be ashamed of? Must I tell you
that I am glad you came to me when you were beaten, and not when you
had won? Is there anything that I should trouble myself about?"

"Your friends' opinion, your father's opposition----"

He broke off, and Ida, who turned in her chair, looked around suddenly
with her cheeks flushed.

"My father," she said, "is able to speak for himself."

Weston started, for he saw Stirling standing just inside the doorway
looking at them gravely. Their attitude and the girl's expression
would, he realized, be significant to a man of the contractor's
intelligence. Then Ida rose and faced the elder man.

"I think I would better tell