face but blazing eyes Priscilla got up and went over to her
mother. She drew the bowed and quivering form toward her and looked
straight into the tear-flooded eyes.

"Mother, tell me, do you believe me--dishonoured?"

The contact of the dear, strong young body gave Theodora power to say:

"Oh! my dear, my dear, I cannot, I will not believe evil of you. But you
must do what your father thinks best; it is the only way. You have been
so heedless, my child, my poor child."

"You--side with her?" thundered Nathaniel, feeling himself defied. "Then
heed me! If she refuses, out you go with her! No longer will I live with
my family divided against me. The world with her, or the home with me!"

Then suddenly and quite clearly Priscilla saw the only way open to her,
the only way that led to even the poor peace she yearned to leave to the
sad, little, clinging, broken creature looking piteously up at her.

"My child, my child, your father knows best."

"There! there mother. Now listen!"

Still holding Theodora, she looked over the gray head at her father's
cruel face.

"I have only to tell you," she said slowly and with deadly hardness, "you
will not have to force Jerry-Jo McAlpin to marry me; he's eager enough to
do it. He leaves to-night for the States; he has arranged for me to go
with him." She paused, then went on, speaking now to her mother:

"As God hears me, I am not dishonoured, little mother. I will never bring
dishonour upon you. I could have explained to you--you would have
understood, but father--never! I am going to the States. Good-bye."

"My child! oh! my girl!"

"Good-bye, dear mother."

"Oh, Priscilla! Do not leave us so!"

"This is the only way."

"But, you--you are not yet wedded."

Priscilla smiled.

"You must leave that to Jerry-Jo and me. And now a kiss--and the dear
cheek against mine. So!"

"But you will come back----" Theodora sank gently to the floor. She had
fainted quite away!

Priscilla bent with her, she lifted the white head to her knee, and again
addressed her father.

"You are satisfied?" she asked. The shield was down between them. Man and
woman, they stared, understandingly, in each other's eyes.

"Leave her to me!" commanded Nathaniel, and strode toward the prostrate
form.

"You've lied first and last. Neither McAlpin nor any other honest man
will have you! Go!"

"I will go and--my hate I leave with you!"

And when Theodora opened her eyes she was lying on the roug