alk to her; that he would make love to her; that he would
marry her and banish from his heart those hateful emotions which Millar
had aroused. He leaned forward and spoke of love to the girl in low
tones, while Elsa, with color coming and going in her face, listened and
watched the woman she knew for her rival.

"Our first love usually is our last love--our last love always is the
first," Karl said.

"I don't know," Elsa cried demurely. "I have never been in love,
although I was disappointed twice," she added gayly.

Karl was beginning to find his task difficult. His attention wandered to
Olga.

"Disappointments; well, yes, who has not been disappointed?"

Elsa observed his growing inattention, his efforts to concentrate his
thoughts on their talk, his futile love-making, and she turned from him
coldly. Meanwhile Millar and Olga were having a conversation in which
Olga was being torn on the rack of her jealous emotions.

Millar had brought her into the anteroom to show her Karl making love to
Elsa. Every circumstance favored his design. Olga at first was disposed
to withdraw when she saw them.

"Don't you think we should leave the young people together?" she said.

"You are too considerate," Millar replied cynically.

"They seem to be growing fond of each other," Olga said jealously.

[Illustration: "THEY SEEM TO BE GROWING FOND OF EACH OTHER," OLGA SAID
JEALOUSLY.--Page 108.

By Permission of Henry W. Savage.]

"Yes; do you dislike it?"

"No."

"Shall we leave now?"

"No; I rather enjoy watching my seed bear fruit."

Olga tried to speak lightly and smile. Millar, watching her closely, saw
her lips twitch, and it was with difficulty that she controlled herself.

"They are an interesting couple," he said.

"Can't we discuss something besides these two?" Olga asked impatiently.

"Yes, certainly," Millar acquiesced. "I came here to-night to decide a
wager," he went on.

"What was it?" Olga asked absently, looking with jealous eyes at Elsa
and Karl.

"I made a wager that you would fall in love with me to-night."

Olga was startled by the declaration, but she treated it lightly as one
of Millar's strange sayings.

"With whom did you make such a wager?" she asked.

"With Karl," Millar answered quickly.

"Karl--and what did he say?" Olga cried, almost rising from her seat.

"I must not tell you now; it might hurt you."

"Oh, no, it won't; please tell me now," Olga pleaded, leaning over the
ta