e to be consistent he must efface himself; to interfere
would be to accept greater responsibility than he had a right to assume.

"You are prepared to marry a man you do not love because you hope to
make him happy, and thus gain happiness yourself?" he repeated the
problem slowly, emphasizing every word.

"Yes," she replied deliberately; "and the reason I so want to peer into
the future is to make certain that either one of these results is
assured."

"I suppose Hamlen is the man," Huntington said soberly.

"He has spoken of it to you?"

"Yes; he mentioned it soon after he came to visit me."

"Then he does care for me? I had not realized that."

How could the question be answered? Even if Huntington felt himself free
to repeat the confidence Hamlen had given him it would mar the
perfection of the sacrifice for Merry to know the truth. Her very
eagerness for happiness might bring it, and at whatever cost to himself
he wanted that to come to her!

"When we spoke of it Mr. Hamlen was not in a condition to know what his
feelings really were," Huntington replied guardedly. "He realized his
limitations, and questioned, much as you do, the possibility of making
any other person happy. Since he has learned more of the world he is
greatly changed, but we have not again referred to the subject."

"With us both feeling our limitations, and with both striving to
accomplish the same result, don't you think we ought to be successful?"

There was an appealing expression in Merry's face which besought a
confirming answer. Huntington could not resist it.

"It must be so," he said with decision. He smiled into her tense face
with a confidence his heart denied. "It must be so," he repeated.
"Somewhere there must be a divinity which watches over gentle souls like
yours, and brings them their reward."

* * * * *

XXXIII

* * * * *

While Huntington's spirits sank lower and lower Cosden's rose to a point
which made him oblivious to the cares and worries of the world around
him. He had passed through the probationary period with Edith Stevens
with marked success, and this opportunity of consecutive days with her
amid such congenial surroundings filled him with a delight which he had
never found in his business successes. Edith was right, Huntington was
right, Cosden admitted, in their contention that there was something
finer and more satisfying than busin