will
have a soul. There can be no coarse or menial tasks within its walls
because its work shall be glorified by the old immortal song of love
and life."

Stuart leaned close and spoke in a low tense voice:

"And it will always be beautiful, Nan, because it will be penetrated
with the touch of your hand. Every piece of furniture will glow with
that radiance. Gold and precious stones can have no such lustre. See,
here I have planned to place your piano. There will be no music on
earth like the songs those throbbing strings shall make to my soul when
they quiver beneath the touch of your hand. Here on this seat I shall
lie by the window, looking out over the sea, dream and think great
thoughts of life and death and immortality while you play for me. And
with each passing year, dearest, the songs that you sing will be deeper
and richer and more and more full of divine meaning."

The lover slipped his arm gently around the girl's yielding form, her
head drooped on his shoulder, the great dark eyes blinded with tears.
For a moment he held her in silence broken only by a deep sob. His hand
touched her hair with the tenderest gesture as he whispered:

"We can only know a few real friends in this world, dearest--but one
great love comes to any human soul, and life is all too short to lose a
single day----"

"Hush--hush! Jim," the girl cried in anguish, "don't say any more,
please!"

"Tell me that it's all right, dear," he urged. "You know you cannot
leave me now. You know that you love me and that your love is a
deathless thing."

"Yes, yes, I know," she gasped. "But I'm going to marry him! I can't
help it. The spell of his millions is on me and I can't shake it off!"

So sure was Stuart of victory, Nan's outburst made no impression on his
mind. He continued to soothe her as he would a tired child.

"Of course I know you don't mean that--you are only reproaching the
imaginary girl who betrayed her love for money. The real Nan is sobbing
here in my arms--mine forever----"

With a determined effort she drew herself from his embrace and in hard
cold tones said:

"No. Jim, you must face the truth. I am going to marry this man, and
the most horrible thing I can say about myself is that, deeply as I
love you, I know I shall be content with the splendid career that will
be mine. I shall never regret my marriage."

The lover looked at her in a dazed way as if unable to grasp the
meaning of her words.

"Nan," he cried