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ly pursuit of you and your companion. I overheard their plan to surprise you in our cabin. _Don't go there_, and I will delay them and put them off the scent. Don't mind me. God bless you, and if you never see me again think sometimes of TERESA." His trembling ceased; he did not start, but rose in an abstracted way, and made a few deliberate steps in the direction Teresa had gone. Even then he was so confused that he was obliged to refer to the paper again, but with so little effect that he could only repeat the last words, "think sometimes of Teresa." He was conscious that this was not all; he had a full conviction of being deceived, and knew that he held the proof in his hand, but he could not formulate it beyond that sentence. "Teresa"--yes, he would think of her. She would think of him. She would explain it. And here she was returning. In that brief interval her face and manner had again changed. She was pale and quite breathless. She cast a swift glance at Dunn and the paper he mechanically held out, walked up to him, and tore it from his hand. "Well," she said hoarsely, "what are you going to do about it?" He attempted to speak, but his voice failed him. Even then he was conscious that if he had spoken he would have only repeated, "think sometimes of Teresa." He looked longingly but helplessly at the spot where she had thrown the paper, as if it had contained his unuttered words. "Yes," she went on to herself, as if he was a mute, indifferent spectator--"yes, they're gone. That ends it all. The game's played out. Well!" suddenly turning upon him, "now you know it all. Your Nellie _was_ here with him, and is with him now. Do you hear? Make the most of it; you've lost them--but here I am." "Yes," he said eagerly--"yes, Teresa." She stopped, stared at him; then taking him by the hand led him like a child back to his couch. "Well," she said, in half-savage explanation, "I told you the truth when I said the girl wasn't at the cabin last night, and that I didn't know her. What are you glowerin' at? No! I haven't lied to you, I swear to God, except in one thing. Do you know what that was? To save him I took upon me a shame I don't deserve. I let you think I was his mistress. You think so now, don't you? Well, before God to-day--and He may take me when He likes--I'm no more to him than a sister! I reckon your Nellie can't say as much." She turned away, and with the quick,
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