I am
happy now--happy now.

"You do not know Jasper," continued the dying man after a pause; "but
he saw you last night--and admired--how could he help it? I hope you
will be friends--for my sake. Jasper is my only friend."

There was a grey shadow on his face now--the shadow of death.
Tom must have felt it draw near, for suddenly raising himself upon
his elbow, he cried--

"Ah, I was selfish--I did not think. They are waiting at the
theatre--go to them. You will act your best--for my sake.
Forget what I have said, if you cannot forgive."

"Oh, why will you think that?"

"You do forgive? Oh, God bless you, God bless you for it! Clarissa,
if that be so, grant one thing more of your infinite mercy. Kiss me
once--once only--on the lips. I shall die happier so. Will you--can
you--do this?"

The film was gathering fast upon those eyes once so full of laughter;
but through it they gazed in passionate appeal. For answer, my love
bent gravely over the bed and with her lips met his; then, still
clasping his hand, sank on her knees beside the bed.

"Thank God! My love--oh, let me call you that--you cannot--help--my
loving you. Do not pray--I am happy now and--they are waiting for
you."

Slowly Claire arose to her feet and stood waiting for his last word--

"They are waiting--waiting. Good-bye, Jasper--old friend--and
Clarissa--Clarissa--my love--they are waiting--I cannot come--Clar--"

Slowly Claire bent and once more touched his lips, then without a
word passed slowly out. As she went Death entered and found on its
victim's face a changeless, rapturous smile.

So "Francesca" was played a second time and, as the papers said next
morning, with even more perfect art and amid more awed enthusiasm
than on the first night. But as the piece went on, a rumour passed
through the house that its young author was dead--suddenly and
mysteriously dead while the dawn of his fame was yet breaking--struck
down, some said, outside the theatre by a rival, while others
whispered that he had taken poison, but none knew for certain.
Only, as Claire passed from one heart-shaking scene to another, the
rumour grew and grew, so that when the curtain fell the audience
parted in awed and murmured speculations.

And all the while I was kneeling beside the body of my murdered
friend.

A week had passed and I was standing with Claire beside Tom's grave.
We had met and spoken at the funeral, but some restraint had lain
upo