generation but only to appear surely in the third. But it
also says that the taint is very likely to appear in _every_
generation.

"Duane, is this _true_? It has worried me sick since I read it.
Because, my darling, if it is so, is it not another reason for our
not marrying?

"Do you understand? I can and will eradicate what is threatening
_me_, but if I marry you--you _do_ understand, don't you? Isn't it
all right for me to ask you whether, if we should have children,
this thing would menace them? Oh, Duane--Duane! Have I any right to
marry? Children come--God knows how, for nobody ever told me
exactly, and I'm a fool about such things--but I summoned up courage
to ask Dr. Bailey if there was any way to tell before I married
whether I would have any, and he said I would if I had any notion of
my duty and any pretence to self-respect. And I don't know what he
means and I'm bewildered and miserable and afraid to marry you even
when I myself become perfectly well. And that is what worries me,
Duane, and I have nobody in the world to ask about it except you.
Could you please tell me how I might learn what I ought to know
concerning these things without betraying my own vital interest in
them to whomever I ask? You see, Kathleen is as innocent as I.

"Please tell me all you can, Duane, for I am most unhappy."

* * * * *

"The house is very still and full of sunlight and cut flowers. Scott
is meditating great deeds, lying flat in the dirt. Kathleen sits
watching him from the parapet. And I am here in the library, with
that ghastly book at my elbow, pouring out all my doubts and fears
to the only man in the world--whom God bless and protect wherever he
may be--Oh, Duane, Duane, how I love you!"

She hurriedly directed and sealed the letter and placed it in the box
for outgoing mail; then, unquiet and apprehensive regarding what she had
ventured to write, she began a restless tour of the house, upstairs and
down, wandering aimlessly through sunny corridors, opening doors for a
brief survey of chambers in which only the shadow-patterns of leaves
moved on sunlit walls; still rooms tenanted only by the carefully dusted
furniture which seemed to stand there watching attentively for another
guest.

Duane had left his pipe in his bedroom. She was silly over it, even to
the point of retir