ernoon was drawing to a close and the dusk was deepening into
darkness. The red rays of the setting sun came in through the window
and as it bathed him in its crimson glow it made a sort of a halo
around the old man's head. Jenny gazed at him for a long time and was
surprised that he did not speak; but Von Barwig was not conscious of
her presence. She looked at him more closely and saw the tears in his
eyes; then she came over to him and nestled closely by his side. In a
moment her woman's instinct divined his need of sympathy and her heart
went out to him.

"Don't look like that," she pleaded, "I can't bear to see it! I've
always known that something troubled you, that you've something to bear
that you've kept back from us. Tell me, tell me! Don't keep it to
yourself, it's eating your heart out. You know I love you;
don't--don't keep it back," and she placed her arm around his neck and
wept as if her heart would break. Her action brought Von Barwig to
himself and he patted her gently on the back. "Why, Jenny, my little
Jenny! Yes, I know you love me, and I--I tell you. Yes, Jenny, I tell
you----"

Jenny nestled closer to him; it was a sorrowful moment for the old man,
and he needed some one to lead him into the light. Slowly, slowly, but
surely the young girl led him out of his mental chaos. His heart had
been perilously near the breaking point, but he could think more calmly
now.

"I--when--I came over to this country I--I looked for some one that I
never found. I have--no luck, Jenny, no luck," he said in a broken
voice, "and I bring no luck to others." He paused and then went on: "I
stay here no longer, Jenny. I go back; it's better! Yes, I go back to
my own country."

"Oh, no, don't go back!" pleaded the girl.

"Yes, I go; I must go," the old man said.

She clung tightly to him now, as if she would not let him go. He
smiled at her but shook his head. "It is better," he said gravely,
"far better. I cannot trust myself here alone; it is too much alone!
I love you all, but I am alone. There is an aching void which must be
filled. I cannot trust myself alone any longer."

She did not understand him, nor did she inquire of him his meaning.
She only clung to him, as if determined not to lose him.

"When you are married, Jenny," he went on, "I shall not be here. But
keep well to the house, love your husband, stay at home. Don't search
here, there, everywhere for excitement! The real hap