ever had she pictured him anywhere
else but at her side. Certainly never had she pictured him as the
devoted lover of another woman!... And she had not known what it all
meant--poor blind child that she was!

Very resolutely now Billy set herself to looking matters squarely in
the face. She understood it quite well. All summer Marie and Bertram had
been thrown together. No wonder Marie had fallen in love with Bertram,
and that he--Billy thought she comprehended now why Bertram had found it
so easy for the last few weeks to be William's brother. She, of course,
had been the "other girl" whom Marie had once feared that the man loved.
It was all so clear--so woefully clear!

With an aching heart Billy asked herself what now was to be done.
For herself, turn whichever way she could, she could see nothing but
unhappiness. She determined, therefore, with Spartan fortitude, that
to no one else would she bring equal unhappiness. She would be silent.
Bertram and Marie loved each other. That matter was settled. As to
William--Billy thought of the story William had told her of his lonely
life,--of the plea he had made to her; and her heart ached. Whatever
happened, William must be made happy. William must not be told. Her
promise to William must be kept.

CHAPTER XL

WILLIAM PAYS A VISIT

Before September passed all Billy's friends said that her summer's
self-appointed task had been too hard for her. In no other way could
they account for the sad change that had come to her.

Undeniably Billy looked really ill. Always slender, she was shadow-like
now. Her eyes had found again the wistful appeal of her girlhood, only
now they carried something that was almost fear, as well. The rose-flush
had gone from her cheeks, and pathetic little hollows had appeared,
making the round young chin below look almost pointed. Certainly Billy
did seem to be ill.

Late in September William went West on business. Incidentally he called
to see his sister, Kate.

"Well, and how is everybody?" asked Kate, cheerily, after the greetings
were over.

William sighed.

"Well, 'everybody,' to me, Kate, is pretty badly off. We're worried
about Billy."

"Billy! You don't mean she's sick? Why, she's always been the picture of
health!"

"I know she has; but she isn't now."

"What's the trouble?"

"That's what we don't know."

"You've had the doctor?"

"Of course; two or three of them--though much against Billy's will.
But--they didn't