her rather than to have her learn
the news from others as she certainly would at almost any moment, but I
knew, too, that even to her I could not disclose my reason for
selling. I must keep George's secret as he had kept mine and take the
consequences with a close mouth and as much of my old indifference to
public opinion as I could muster. But I realized, only too well, that
the indifference which had once been real was now only pretense.

I have said very little about George Taylor's gratitude to me, nor his
appreciation of what I had done for him. The poor fellow would have
talked of nothing else if I had let him.

"You've saved my good name and my life, Ros," he said, over and over
again, "and not only my life, but what is a mighty sight more worth
saving, Nellie's happiness. I don't know how you did it; I believe yet
that there is something behind all this, that you're keeping something
from me. I can't see how, considering all you've said to me about your
not being well-off, you got that money so quick. But I know you don't
want me to talk about it."

"I don't, George," I said. "All I ask of you is just to forget the whole
thing."

"Forget! I shan't forget while I live. And, as soon as ever I can scrape
it together, I'll pay you back that loan."

He had kept his word, so far as telling Nellie of his financial
condition was concerned. He had not, of course, told her of his use of
the bank bonds, but he had, as he said he would, told her that, in all
probability, he should be left with nothing but his salary.

"I told her she was free to give me up," he said, with emotion, "and
what do you suppose she said to me? That she would marry me if she knew
she must live in the poorhouse the rest of her days. Yes, and be happy,
so long as we could be together. Well, I ain't worth it, and I told her
so, but I'll do my best to be worth something; and she shan't have to
live in the poorhouse either."

"I don't think there's much danger of that," I said. "And, by the way,
George, your Louisville and Transcontinental speculation may not be
all loss. You may save something out of it. There has been considerable
trading in the stock during the past two days. It is up half a point
already, according to the papers. Did you notice it?"

"Yes, I noticed it. But I tell you, Ros, I don't care. I'll be glad to
get some of my money back, of course; enough to pay you and Cap'n Elisha
anyhow; but I'm so happy to think that Nellie n