as an angel! Oh, I wish I was
dead--dead--dead! I can't bear this; it is too much--too much!"

Elsie wrung her hands and sobbed piteously; she had wept until nature
exhausted itself, and that choked anguish was more painful to witness
than the most violent outburst of tears.

"We loved her so," muttered Mellen; "she was twined round that girl's
heart as she enthralled mine; she has broken both."

"What are you saying, Grant?"

"Nothing, dear; I only pitied you and myself for loving her so much."

"I will always love her," cried Elsie; "you never shall change me;
nothing shall do that. She is innocent; I believe it; I would say so
before the whole world."

CHAPTER LXIX.

ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS.

Mellen was seized with a sudden fear.

"Elsie," he said, "if anything should happen to me; if I should die----"

She caught his hands and began to tremble.

"What do you mean? Die--die!"

"Nothing, dear; don't be frightened. But life is uncertain; what I mean
is this--if you should outlive me promise never to seek that woman;
never to let her come near you."

"I can't promise that; I can't be so wicked."

"You must, Elsie."

"I can't; I won't! No, no; I'll never be bad enough for that!"

"If you refuse me this, Elsie, you will sink a gulf between us which can
never be filled up."

"Don't talk so; remember how sick I am."

"I do; I won't agitate you, but we must have an end of this subject. If
I should die--"

"I won't hear you talk about dying," she broke in. "You frighten me;
you'll kill me."

But he went on resolutely;

"Promise never to see or hear from her."

"Not that; it is too wicked--too horrible."

"Elsie," he cried, in stern passion, "promise, or I will go out of this
room, and though we live together it shall be as strangers."

He rose as if to fulfil his threat; she sprang up in bed; her cowardice,
her selfishness mastered every other feeling.

"I promise. Come back, Grant, come back; oh, do!"

He seated himself again, soothed and caressed her.

"We will not talk any more," he said, kindly. "Henceforth let everything
connected with this subject be dead between us; that woman's name must
never be mentioned here; her very memory must be swept out of the
dwelling she has dishonored. You and I will bury the past, Elsie, and
place a heavy stone over the tomb; will you remember that, child?"

"Yes, yes; anything! Do what you please; I cannot struggle any longer;
it is not