er. He had told her
their relations on any terms must cease, and yet he knew instinctively
that another struggle was possible on her return. He made up his mind
at once to avoid this meeting.

The sight of Harriet seated on the stoop of the old home by the Square
watching a crowd of children play brought a smile back to his haggard
face.

He waved to her a block away and she sprang to her feet answering with
a cry of joy. The startling contrast between the women struck him
again. She met him at the corner with outstretched hands.

"What a jolly scene, little pal!" he cried. "What's the kid's
convention about?"

"They've come to honour me with their good wishes on my voyage."

"What voyage?" he asked in surprise.

"Oh, you didn't know--I've an engagement to sing on the Continent this
summer--the news came the day you left. Isn't that fine? I sail next
week."

A sudden idea struck him. He dropped the bag he was carrying and
exclaimed:

"By George, it is just the thing!"

"What?" she asked with a puzzled look.

"Let me go with you, girlie?"

"Oh, Jim, if you only would, I'd be in heaven! You have never been
across. I'd chaperone you and show you everything you ought to see.
Please go! Say you will! You've said you would, and you can't say
no--you're going, you're going!"

"I will!" he said with decision. "You've booked your passage?"

"Yes, but I'll change it to suit you. Oh, goodie, goodie! You're going,
you're going! I'm perfectly happy!"

He found business which required a week and booked his passage with
Harriet's on a Cunarder which sailed in ten days.

A week later Nan and Bivens returned to their New York house. The
papers were full of stories of his failing health. A sensational
evening sheet issued an extra announcing that he was dying. The other
papers denied the report as a fake. All reporters were denied admission
to the Riverside home, and in consequence the press devoted five times
the space to his illness they otherwise would have given.

Two days after her arrival Nan telephoned to Stuart.

"You must come up to see Cal to-night," she said earnestly, "he is
asking for you."

"Is he really dangerously ill?" Stuart interrupted.

"It's far more serious than the papers suspect. He has had another
attack of his old trouble. The doctors say he has a fighting
chance--that's all. You'll come?"

"Yes, early to-morrow morning. I've an important engagement to-night
that will keep me until tw