leaning toward her, he took
her hand. "Don't you think, Margaret, you might perhaps some time." The
piteous entreaty in his voice broke down the girl's proud courage.

"Oh, Dick! Oh, Dick!" she sobbed, "don't! Don't ask me!" Her sobs came
tempestuously.

He put his arms about her and, stroking her yellow hair, gently said,
"Never mind, little girl. Don't do that! I can't stand that, and--well,
I won't bother you a bit with my affair. Don't think about me. I'll get
hold of myself. There now--hush, hush, girlie. Don't cry like that!" He
held her close to him, caressing her till she grew quiet.

At length she drew away, saying, "I don't know why I should act like
this. I haven't cried for a year. I think I am tired. It has been a hard
winter, Dick. They used to play and sing together for hours. Oh, it
was wonderful music, but I could have shrieked aloud. Don't think me
horrid," she went on hurriedly. "I wonder I am not ashamed to tell you.
But I never let anyone know, neither of them nor anyone else. Mind you
that, Dick, no one knows." She sat up straight, her courage coming back.
"I never meant to tell you, Dick, but you know you took me unaware."
A little smile was struggling to the corners of her mouth and a faint
flush touched her pale cheek. "But I am glad you know. And, Dick, can't
we go back? Won't you forget what you have said?" Dick had been looking
at her, wondering at her courage and self-command, but in his eyes a
look of misery that went to the girl's heart.

"Forget!" he cried. "Tell me how."

She shook her head, and then, reading his eyes, she cried aloud, "Oh,
Dick! must we go on and on like this?" She pressed her hands hard upon
her heart. "There's a sore, sore pain right here," she said. "Is there
to be no rest, no relief from it? It's been there for two years." She
was fast losing her grip of herself again. Once more he caught her in
his strong brown hands.

"Now, Margaret dear, don't do that! We'll help each other somehow.
God--yes, God will help us if He takes any interest in us at all. He
can't let us go on like this!"

The words steadied her.

"I know, Dick," she said, a sudden quiet falling upon her, "there has
been no one else for all these months, and He has helped me. He will
help you, too. Come," she continued, "let us go."

"No, sit down and talk," replied Dick. He looked at his watch. "A
quarter after ten," he said, in surprise. "Can the whole world change in
one little quarter of a