it he wondered if he would care to have
her allegiance divided--as his was divided. Oh, wise Diana, who had
refused to be what she had no right to be, what he would not want his
own wife to be, when once she was bound to him--the dear friend of
another man.

"You and I," he said, "must try to be all in all to each other." Then
after a pause, "Do you really love me, child?"

"Oh, yes." Again she drew a sobbing breath.

"I am such an old fellow," he said, in a troubled way, "and you are
made for bright things and gay things. I wonder if you will be happy
with an old tired fellow like me----"

In her simplicity she believed that his appeal was that of love, and out
of the gratitude which she felt that she owed him she tried to respond.

"Oh, I do love you," she whispered, "and when we are married--we shall
be happy----"

Presently she tugged at the thin chain about her neck, and brought forth
the rings.

"After this I shall wear them," she said, "for all the world to see."

When Anthony went home he answered Diana's letter. He had sent her
flowers on the day that she had left--her favorite violets and valley
lilies. Beyond that he had made no sign.

But now he wrote:

"OH, DEAR WISE WOMAN:

"During all the days since I received your letter I have not been able
to see things as you wanted me to see them. I have raged against Fate,
and have been pursued by Furies. I have shut myself away, as far as
possible, from the world. At one moment I have doubted your love for
me; at the next, I have resolved to follow you, play cave man, and
carry you off.

"I have read and reread your letter, trying to find some weakness to
which I could appeal--but I could find none. But finally, as I read,
one sentence began to stand out: 'We loved those who died--fighting.'
When I got into the swing of that thought it stirred me. I am going to
live--fighting--perhaps I shall die--fighting----

"To-day Bettina has told me that she will marry me in a month. She
says that she has written you that it is best that people should know
at once. And I think that it is best. I shall try to make her happy,
but if I conquer life, if I ever do any great thing or good thing or
wise thing, it will be because you have shown me the way.

"You say, 'When we are old, we can be friends.' How I shall welcome
old age, Diana! May the years fly swiftly!

"ANTHONY."

Having squared himself thus with the ine