ons of
Barney's letter as she thought necessary.

"Well?" she said, as Dick remained silent.

"Well," replied Dick, "what's your answer to be?"

"You know what he means," said Iola a little impatiently. "He wants me
to marry him at once and to settle down."

"Well," said Dick, "why not?"

"Now, Dick," cried Iola, "do you think I am suited for that kind of
life? Can you picture me devoting myself to the keeping of a house tidy,
the overseeing of meals? I fancy I see myself spending the long, quiet
evenings, my husband busy in his office or out among his patients while
I dose and yawn and grow fat and old and ugly, and the great world
forgetting. Dick, I should die! Of course, I love Barney. But I must
have life, movement. I can't be forgotten!"

"Forgotten?" cried Dick. "Why should you be forgotten? Barney's wife
could not be ignored and the world could not forget you. And, after
all," added Dick, in a musing tone, "to live with Barney ought to be
good enough for any woman."

"Why, how eloquent you are, Dick!" she cried, making a little moue. "You
are quite irresistible!" she added, leaning toward him with a mocking
laugh.

"Come, let us go," said Dick painfully, conscious of her physical charm.
"We must get away."

"But you haven't helped me, Dick," she cried, drawing nearer to him and
laying her hand upon his arm.

The perfume of her hair smote upon his senses. The beauty of her face
and form intoxicated him.

He knew he was losing control of himself.

"Come, Iola," he said, "let us go."

"Tell me what to say, Dick," she replied, smiling into his face and
leaning toward him.

"How can I tell you?" cried Dick desperately, springing up. "I only know
you are beautiful, Iola, beautiful as an angel, as a devil! What has
come over you, or is it me, that you should affect me so? Do you know,"
he added roughly, lifting her to her feet, his breath coming hard and
fast, "I can hardly keep my hands off you. We must go. I must go. Come!"

"Poor child," mocked Iola, still smiling into his eyes, "is it afraid it
will get hurt?"

"Stop it, Iola!" cried Dick. "Come on!"

"Come," she mocked, still leaning toward him.

Swiftly Dick turned, seized her in his arms, his eyes burning down upon
her mocking face. "Kiss me!" he commanded.

Gradually she allowed the weight of her body to lean upon him, drawing
him steadily down toward her the while, with the deep, passionate lure
of her lustrous eyes.

"Kiss me!" he