at gust of biting air across the wide room and
into his face. A cloud of smoke sprang out from the fireplace to meet it
and the two came together in front of the man, and made a visible wall
for a second between him and the girl.

He sprang to his feet, cigar in hand, and an angry exclamation upon his
lips. The office, fortunately, was without other occupant.

"Why in the name of all that's unholy did you lead me a race away off to
this forsaken little hole in midwinter, Hazel?" he cried.

Hazel drew herself to her full height and with the dignity that well
became her, answered him:

"Really, Mr. Hamar, what right have you to speak to me in that way? And
what right had you to follow me?"

"The right of the man who is going to marry you!" he answered fiercely;
"and I think it's about time this nonsense stopped. It's nothing but
coquettish foolishness, your coming here. I hate coquettish fools. I
didn't think you had it in you to coquet, but it seems all women are
alike."

"Mr. Hamar, you are forgetting yourself," said the girl quietly, turning
to shut the door that she might gain time to get control of her shaken
nerves. She had a swift vision of what it would be if she were married
to a man like that. No wonder his wife was entirely willing to give him
a divorce. But she shuddered as she turned back and faced him bravely.

"Well, what did you come here for?" he asked in a less fierce tone.

"I came because I wanted to be quiet," Hazel said trying to steady her
voice, "and--I will tell you the whole truth. I came because I wanted to
get away from--you! I have not liked the way you acted towards me
since--that day--in Arizona."

The man's fierce brows drew together, but a kind of mask of apology
overspread his features. He perceived that he had gone too far with the
girl whom he had thought scarcely more than a child. He had thought he
could mould her like wax, and that his scorn would instantly wither her
wiles. He watched her steadily for a full minute; the girl, though
trembling in every nerve, sending back a steady, haughty gaze.

"Do you mean that?" he said at last.

"I do!" Her voice was quiet, but she was on the verge of tears.

"Well, perhaps we'd better talk it over. I see I've taken too much for
granted. I thought you'd understood for a year or more what was going
on--what I was doing it for."

"You thought I understood! You thought I would be willing to be a party
to such an awful thing as you ha