the scene. The Ethel Dent
he had known in the old days had been a woman of flesh and blood;
this was a statue of marble, polished and beautiful, but cold
withal. He could only seek to meet her with equal coldness, then
make his escape to nurse his wounds unseen. Nevertheless, in spite
of his resolutions to the contrary, a sudden heat crept into his
answering words,

"But I thought you had annulled the acquaintance."

She looked up at him in mute surprise. Then, mustering her pride,
she forced herself to smile.

"I?" she answered lightly. "Oh, no, I am only too proud to count a
V. C. among my friends."

He waited until the last word had dropped from her lips, waited
until the silence had dropped over the last word. Then he faced her
yet once again. This time, there was determination in his eyes,
determination and a great, indomitable love.

"Ethel," he said imperiously; "for God's sake, stop fencing with me,
and have it out. Remember it is now, or never."

The color mounted swiftly across her face, then faded, and even to
her own ears her laugh failed to ring true.

"I am sorry; but I fear it is impossible. Here comes Colonel
Andersen for his dance."

Weldon faced about.

"Colonel Andersen, Miss Dent is longing for an ice," he said, with a
sudden masterful quietness. "May I take a convalescent's privilege
and ask you to bring it to her?" Then he turned back to Ethel.
"Come," he bade her.

"Where?" she protested; but she yielded to his stronger will and
followed him across the floor towards a deserted corner of the room.

"Anywhere, where we can talk for a moment," he answered her, with
the same dominant quietness. Then, while they halted beside an open
window, he bent forward and laid his hand upon hers, as it rested
upon the sill. "Ethel," he added; "I am going home, next week. I may
never see South Africa again. Before I go--"

Quietly she withdrew her hand. "Before you go, you will come to say
good by to my mother, I hope," she said, with a steadiness which
gave no hint of the tears behind her lowered lids.

Impatiently he brushed her words aside.

"That is for you to say. First of all, I must know one thing."

Her nerve was failing fast; but she still held to her resolve that
he should gain no hint of her weakness. She drew back a step, as if
his vehemence terrified her, yet she dared not raise her eyes to
his. It was all she could do to hold her voice in subjection.

"And what is that?" she as