ing thing to disturb
any one, and her nerves must have been in a strange state from constant
watchfulness when this little event could move her so greatly. She
leaned against the door-frame quite cold and chill. As Elsie passed her
the girl slipped something in her hand, unperceived by the others.

Elizabeth stood motionless until they had all gone, then she started
forward with something like desperation, and moved towards the hanging
lamp. She opened her hand and looked down at a slip of paper carefully
folded about a broken bit of iron, as if to give it weight enough to be
thrown with sure aim. She shut her hand quickly as if the sight of the
harmless paper filled her with loathing, conquered the convulsion which
shook her from head to foot, unfolded the note and read the brief lines
it contained.

Then she tore the paper into fragments and thrust them down into the
hall fire, watching till even the ashes were gone, fearful that a trace
should be left.

"I must!" she muttered, "I must go--I must not wait!" She looked
eagerly about; the gay laughter of the men rang up from the dining-room;
she could distinguish her husband's voice; through the closed doors of
the parlors came the sound of the piano and a bird-like song, gleeful
and joyous, with which Elsie was amusing the ladies.

Elizabeth flung her arms aloft with sudden passion.

"Laughing, singing, all enjoying themselves!" she moaned, "and I here
with this horrible suffering! I must go--I must go!"

Elizabeth took up a shawl which lay on a chair, opened the outer door
softly, hurried down the steps and disappeared among the trees.

Mr. Mellen did not give his male guests a very lengthy opportunity to
enjoy their claret and cigars; he had no interest in their talk about
the political affairs of the country, a recent bankruptcy, the price of
corn, or any of the topics which came up, and some time before it might
have been expected, he rose, anxious to counteract the dullness by the
presence of his wife and sister, both of whom he had regarded all the
evening with new tenderness and admiration, as they sat like a couple of
rare birds among all those fussy, ill-dressed women. Elsie was still at
the piano when the gentlemen entered. Mr. Mellen looked about for
Elizabeth, but she was not there.

"She has not come in yet," said old Mrs. Thompson, in answer to his
inquiry.

Elsie heard the words--she had ears keen as a little beast of prey.

"One of the serva