se, please, dear Herr Von Barwig, let us
say no more! Good-bye," and she held out her hand, "good-bye! I hope
better fortune may come to you."

"No better fortune can come if you--if you are not there," wailed Von
Barwig. "You don't know--what I know; if you did you would realise
that--" he paused. "I cannot stay away! It is simply impossible--I
cannot!"

"You must," said Helene firmly. "Please go! Don't you understand that
it is as hard for me as it is for you?"

"Why do you so punish me?" pleaded Von Barwig. "For what? What have I
done?"

"I am not punishing you, Herr Von Barwig. I-- Don't ask me to
explain! You must not call again. Please go; go! There, I've said
it; I've said it!" cried Helene in despair, and she walked to the
window to hide her emotion.

Von Barwig looked at her in silence.

"Very well," he said after a few moments and then he looked around for
his hat, which he always brought into the room with him.

He realised that it was useless to try and move her and he turned to
go. He reached the door and had partly opened it when he felt impelled
to make one more effort.

"I leave the Museum," he said at the door. "I go there no more."

Helene shook her head. The old man came toward her.

"You must forgive me, Miss Helene, I must speak," he said in a low
voice choked with emotion; his English was very broken now. "A moment
ago I was thinking what shall be best for you, for your future, your
happiness; and I said to myself: 'Don't say that which will perhaps
hurt her prospects, her future, her marriage with Herr Beverly Cruger!'"

"I don't understand," said Helene in surprise. "What can you say, Herr
Von Barwig, that will hurt my prospects or in any way affect my
marriage with Mr. Cruger?"

"Ah, I don't know what I say," pleaded Von Barwig, who felt at that
moment that for her sake he must not tell her who he was. "I don't
know what I say! I am struck down; I cannot rise, I cannot think! Ah,
don't discharge me, please don't discharge me!" wailed the old man
pitifully. "Let me come here as I always do; don't send me away!"

Helene was silent; she felt that she could say no more.

"It is the first time in my life I have ever begged of a living soul,"
pleaded Von Barwig, "and now I beg, I beg that you will not send me
away! You have made me so happy, so happy, and now--please don't
discharge me, don't discharge me!" It was all he seemed able to say.

Helene was looki