all that had transpired; but through
oversight or excitement she quite forgot to mention Rex had called
Daisy his wife.

"Curse him!" he muttered, under his breath, "I--I believe the girl
actually cares for him."

Then he went out to Daisy, lying so still and lifeless among the pink
clover and waving grass.

Poor Daisy! Poor, desperate, lonely, struggling child! All this cruel
load of sorrow, crushing her girlish heart, and blighting her young
life, and she so innocent, so entirely blameless, yet such a plaything
of fate.

"Daisy," he said, bending over her and lifting the slight form in his
arms, "they tell me some one has been troubling you. Who has dared
annoy you? Trust in me, Daisy. What is the matter?"

Lester Stanwick never forgot the white, pitiful face that was raised
to his.

"I want to die," she sobbed. "Oh, why did you not leave me to die in
the dark water? it was so cruel of you to save me."

"Do you want to know why I risked my life to save you, Daisy? Does not
my every word and glance tell you why?" The bold glance in his eyes
spoke volumes. "Have you not guessed that I love you, Daisy?"

"Oh, please do not talk to me in that way, Mr. Stanwick," she cried,
starting to her feet in wild alarm. "Indeed you must not," she
stammered.

"Why not?" he demanded, a merciless smile stirring beneath his heavy
mustache. "I consider that you belong to me. I mean to make you my
wife in very truth."

Daisy threw up her hands in a gesture of terror heart-breaking to see,
shrinking away from him in quivering horror, her sweet face ashen
pale.

"Oh, go away, go away!" she cried out. "I am growing afraid of you. I
could never marry you, and I would not if I could. I shall always be
grateful to you for what you have done for me, but, oh, go away, and
leave me now, for my trouble is greater than I can bear!"

"You would not if you could," he repeated, coolly, smiling so
strangely her blood seemed to change to ice in her veins. "I thank you
sincerely for your appreciation of me. I did not dream, however, your
aversion to me was so deeply rooted. That makes little difference,
however. I shall make you my wife this very day all the same;
business, urgent business, calls me away from Elmwood to-day. I shall
take you with me as my wife."

She heard the cruel words like one in a dream.

"Rex! Rex!" she sobbed, under her breath. Suddenly she remembered Rex
had left her--she was never to look upon his face again. H