ek, with Ronador's impassioned voice ringing
wildly in her ears.

In the east the sky turned faintly primrose, the creek glowed faintly
pink. The great moon glided lower by the marsh with the branch of a
dead tree black against its brilliant shield. Marsh and oak were
faintly gray. The metallic ocean had already caught the deepening glow
of life. Where the stream stole swampwards, a mist curled slowly up
from the water like beckoning ghosts draped in nebulous rags.

Suddenly in the silence Diane fell to trembling.

"Philip!" she cried desperately.

"Yes?" said Philip gently.

"Why are you following me with the music-machine?"

"I could tell you," said Philip honestly, "and I'd like to, but you'd
tell me again that the moon is on my head."

The girl smiled faintly.

"Tell me," she begged impetuously, "what was that other reason why I
must not journey to Florida in the van? You spoke of it by the lily
pool in Connecticut. You remember?"

"Yes," said Philip uncomfortably. "Yes, I do remember."

"What was it?" insisted Diane, her eyes imploring. "Surely, Philip,
you can tell me now! I--I did not ask you then--"

"No," said Philip wistfully. "I--I think you trusted me then, for all
our friendship was a thing of weeks."

"What was it?" asked Diane, grown very white.

"I am sorry," said Philip simply. "I may not tell you that, Diane. I
am pledged."

"To whom?"

"It is better," said Philip, "if I do not tell."

Diane sharply caught her breath and stared at the sinister wraiths
rising in floating files from the swamp stream.

"Philip--was it--was it Themar's knife?"

"Yes," said Philip.

"And the man to whom you are pledged is--Baron Tregar!"

"Yes," said Philip again.

"Why were you in the forest that night of storm and wind?"

Philip glanced keenly at the girl by the creek. Her profile was stern
and very beautiful, but the finely moulded lips had quivered.

"What is it, Diane?" he begged gently. "Why is it that you must ask me
all these things that I may not honorably answer?"

"I--I do not see why you may not answer."

"An honorable man respects his promise scrupulously!" said Philip with
a sigh. "You would not have me break mine?"

"Why," cried Diane, "did you fight with Themar in the forest? Why have
you night after night watched my camp? Oh, Philip, surely, surely, you
can tell me!"

Philip sighed. With his infernal habit of mystery and pledges, the
Baron had made this