to attract her attention in this way, the stranger spoke to
her.

"A lovely day, isn't it?" he remarked.

"Are you speaking to me, sir?" asked Jessie Bain, in great displeasure.

"I am indeed so bold," he answered. "May I hope that you are not
offended with me for so doing, for I have a fancy to know such a pretty
young girl as yourself."

"I am offended!" cried Jessie Bain, indignantly. "I always supposed
before this that people could sit down in a public park without being
molested; but it seems not; so I shall move on!"

"So young, so beautiful, but so unkind," murmured the stranger, in a
melo-dramatic voice.

"I can not think that we are strangers. I must have seen you somewhere,
believe me," he went on, rising suddenly and walking close by her side
as she started down the path.

Jessie was now thoroughly frightened. She uttered a little, shrill cry.

"What are you doing that for?" hissed the man, clutching her arm. "You
will have the police after us. Walk along quietly beside me, you little
fool; I have something to say to you."

Terrified, Jessie only cried the louder and shriller, wrenching her arm
free from the stranger's grasp.

At that instant a young man, who had happened along, and who had heard
the cry, sprang with alacrity to the young girl's rescue.

"What is the matter?" he cried. "Is this fellow annoying you?"

Jessie knew the voice at once, and sprang forward. She had recognized
the voice of the young architect.

"Oh, save me--save me!" she cried.

Even before she had time to utter a word the young man had recognized
Jessie Bain; and that very instant the man who had dared thus annoy her
was measuring his full length on the grass, sent there by the young
architect's vigorous arm.

"I will have your life for this!" yelled the fellow, as he picked
himself up, but taking good care to keep well out of the reach of the
young girl's defender.

"What in the world are you doing in the park, and so far away from home,
Miss Jessie?" Moray, the young architect, asked.

Her lips quivered and her eyes filled with sudden tears.

"Varrick Place isn't home to me any longer, Mr. Moray," she sobbed. "I
have just left it to-day--left it forever. I wish I had never seen the
place. It has caused me no end of sorrow."

"I do not wish to pry into any of your affairs," he said, gently, as he
took her hand and walked slowly down the path with her; "but if you will
confide in me and tell me why you left