tell him so."

"And go on making a mess of your life such as you did for years," said
Nancy Ellen, drying her red eyes.

"At least it was my life," said Kate. "I didn't mess things for any
one else."

"Except your children," said Nancy Ellen.

"As you will," said Kate, rising. "I'll not marry John Jardine; and
the sooner I tell him so and get it over, the better. Good-bye. I'll
be back in half an hour."

Kate walked slowly to the observation platform, where she had been the
previous evening with John Jardine; and leaning on the railing, she
stood looking out over the water, and down the steep declivity,
thinking how best she could word what she had to say. She was so
absorbed she did not hear steps behind her or turn until a sharp voice
said: "You needn't wait any longer. He's not coming!"

Kate turned and glanced at the speaker, and then around to make sure
she was the person being addressed. She could see no one else. The
woman was small, light haired, her face enamelled, dressed beyond all
reason, and in a manner wholly out of place for morning at a summer
resort in Michigan.

"If you are speaking to me, will you kindly tell me to whom you refer,
and give me the message you bring?" said Kate.

"I refer to Mr. John Jardine, Mrs. Holt," said the little woman and
then Kate saw that she was shaking, and gripping her hands for
self-control.

"Very well," said Kate. "It will save me an unpleasant task if he
doesn't come. Thank you," and she turned back to the water.

"You certainly didn't find anything unpleasant about being with him
half last night," said the little woman.

Kate turned again, and looked narrowly at the speaker. Then she
laughed heartily. "Well done, Jennie!" she cried. "Why, you are such
a fashionable lady, such a Dolly Varden, I never saw who you were. How
do you do? Won't you sit down and have a chat? It's just dawning on
me that very possibly, from your dress and manner, I SHOULD have called
you Mrs. Jardine."

"Didn't he tell you?" cried Jennie.

"He did not," said Kate. "Your name was not mentioned. He said no
word about being married."

"We have been married since a few weeks after Mrs. Jardine died. I
taught him the things you turned him down for not knowing; I have
studied him, and waited on him, and borne his children, and THIS is my
reward. What are you going to do?"

"Go back to the hotel, when I finish with this view," said Kate. "I
find it almost as at