, like a lily on its stem. She stood
talking with the doctor, who held his hat in his hand with as much
deference as though she were the proudest dame in town. Her face was
partly turned away from the window, but as Tryon's eye fell upon her,
he gave a great start. Surely, no two women could be so much alike.
The height, the graceful droop of the shoulders, the swan-like poise of
the head, the well-turned little ear,--surely, no two women could have
them all identical! But, pshaw! the notion was absurd, it was merely
the reflex influence of his morning's dream.

She moved slightly; it was Rena's movement. Surely he knew the gown,
and the style of hair-dressing! She rested her hand lightly on the
back of a chair. The ring that glittered on her finger could be none
other than his own.

The doctor bowed. The girl nodded in response, and, turning, left the
store. Tryon leaned forward from the buggy-seat and kept his eye fixed
on the figure that moved across the floor of the drugstore. As she came
out, she turned her face casually toward the buggy, and there could no
longer be any doubt as to her identity.

When Rena's eyes fell upon the young man in the buggy, she saw a face
as pale as death, with starting eyes, in which love, which once had
reigned there, had now given place to astonishment and horror. She
stood a moment as if turned to stone. One appealing glance she
gave,--a look that might have softened adamant. When she saw that it
brought no answering sign of love or sorrow or regret, the color faded
from her cheek, the light from her eye, and she fell fainting to the
ground.

XVI

THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT

The first effect of Tryon's discovery was, figuratively speaking, to
knock the bottom out of things for him. It was much as if a boat on
which he had been floating smoothly down the stream of pleasure had
sunk suddenly and left him struggling in deep waters. The full
realization of the truth, which followed speedily, had for the moment
reversed his mental attitude toward her, and love and yearning had
given place to anger and disgust. His agitation could hardly have
escaped notice had not the doctor's attention, and that of the crowd
that quickly gathered, been absorbed by the young woman who had fallen.
During the time occupied in carrying her into the drugstore, restoring
her to consciousness, and sending her home in a carriage, Tryon had
time to recover in some degree his self-possession.