was
distressed, nonplussed, immensely sorry. As he walked to the center of
the room again she suddenly suffered a great revulsion of feeling, but
only in the direction of more wrath. This was too much.

"So this is the way you talk to me," she exclaimed, "after all I have
done for you! You say that to me after I waited for you and cried over
you when you were in prison for nearly two years? Your mistress! That's
my reward, is it? Oh!"

Suddenly she observed her jewel-case, and, resenting all the gifts he
had given her in Philadelphia, in Paris, in Rome, here in Chicago, she
suddenly threw open the lid and, grabbing the contents by handfuls,
began to toss them toward him--to actually throw them in his face. Out
they came, handfuls of gauds that he had given her in real affection: a
jade necklace and bracelet of pale apple-green set in spun gold, with
clasps of white ivory; a necklace of pearls, assorted as to size and
matched in color, that shone with a tinted, pearly flame in the evening
light; a handful of rings and brooches, diamonds, rubies, opals,
amethysts; a dog-collar of emeralds, and a diamond hair-ornament. She
flung them at him excitedly, strewing the floor, striking him on the
neck, the face, the hands. "Take that! and that! and that! There they
are! I don't want anything more of yours. I don't want anything more
to do with you. I don't want anything that belongs to you. Thank God,
I have money enough of my own to live on! I hate you--I despise you--I
never want to see you any more. Oh--" And, trying to think of
something more, but failing, she dashed swiftly down the hall and down
the stairs, while he stood for just one moment overwhelmed. Then he
hurried after.

"Aileen!" he called. "Aileen, come back here! Don't go, Aileen!" But
she only hurried faster; she opened and closed the door, and actually
ran out in the dark, her eyes wet, her heart bursting. So this was the
end of that youthful dream that had begun so beautifully. She was no
better than the others--just one of his mistresses. To have her past
thrown up to her as a defense for the others! To be told that she was
no better than they! This was the last straw. She choked and sobbed as
she walked, vowing never to return, never to see him any more. But as
she did so Cowperwood came running after, determined for once, as
lawless as he was, that this should not be the end of it all. She had
loved him, he reflected. She had laid every