, even," she choked, "though what we
see as the way may seem a wild goose chase to some one we love. I'll
tell you why I'm going to New York," she flashed with sudden defiance.
"I'm going because I want to!"

She laughed a little and he laughed with her. Then she went on more
gently: "Because I want to. Just the thought of it has made life come
alive for me--that's reason enough for going to the ends of the earth!
I'm going to _live_ again, Ted--not just go on with what living has
left. I'm going to find some work to do. Yes I _can_!" she cried
passionately in response to his gesture "I suppose to you it seems just
looking out for myself--seems unfaithful to Stuart. Well, it
isn't--that's all I can say, and maybe some day you'll see that it
wasn't. It isn't unfaithful to turn from a person you have nothing more
to offer, for whom you no longer make life a living thing. It's more
faithful to go. You'll see that some time, Ted. But be good to Stuart,"
she hastily added. "You stay with him till he can get off. I've made all
the arrangements with Mrs. Baxter for packing up--sending on the things.
It would be hard for him to do that, I know. And once away from
here--new interests--life all new again--oh, no, Ted dear," she laughed
a little chokingly, "don't worry about Stuart."

"I'm not worrying about Stuart," he muttered. "I'm worrying about you."

She squeezed his arm in affectionate gratitude for the love in the
growling words. "Don't _worry_ about me, Ted," she implored, "be glad
with me! I'm alive again! It's so wonderful to be alive again. There's
the future--a great, beautiful unknown. It _is_ wonderful, Ted," she
said with insistence, as if she would banish his fears--and her own.

They had a few minutes to wait, and Ted ran over to the postoffice to
get her mail for her--she was expecting a paper she wanted to read on
the train. She tucked what he handed her into her bag and then when she
heard the train coming she held on to Ted's arm, held it as if she could
not bear letting it go. "It's all right," were her last words to him,
smiling through tears.

* * * * *

She had been trying all along to hold her mind from the thought that
they would pass through Freeport. Late the next afternoon, when she knew
they were nearing it, she grew restless. It was then she remembered the
paper in her bag--she had been in no mood for reading, too charged with
her own feeling. She got it out now