y relative, and have a right to know. Come out
into the grounds, the air of the house would stifle me."

They sat down together on a garden chair within sight of the old
cypress.

"I have been a proud man, Fuller, sensitive beyond everything to the
honor of my family, but never knowingly have I allowed this feeling to
stand between my soul and justice. Your cousin has been terribly wronged
since she came under my roof. It is now too late for reparation, but to
you, her only relative, the truth must be known. I will not even ask you
to keep the facts secret. I have no right."

"Look here, old fellow," said Tom, wringing Mellen's slender hand in
his; "if this is a lover's quarrel between you and Elizabeth, don't say
another word. Lord bless you! I can persuade her into anything, she
knows me of old. Besides, I am glad there is something that I can do to
make you both good-natured just now, for as like as not, I shall be
asking a tremendous favor of you before long, and this will pave the
way; tell me where your wife is, I'll take care of the rest."

"Tom, I believe--I fear that she is dead."

The solemnity with which this was spoken, appalled Tom.

"Dead!" he repeated, and the ruddy color faded from his face. "Dead--you
can't mean it."

"Listen patiently to me if you can," said Mellen, sadly. "This must be
told, but the effort is terrible."

Tom folded his arms and bent his now grave face to listen. Then Mellen
told him all; the anguish, the deception, the anxiety which these pages
have recorded so imperfectly. There was but little exhibition of
excitement, Mellen told these things in a dull, dreary voice that
bespoke utter hopelessness. He was so lost in his own misery that the
signs of anguish in Tom's face never disturbed his narrative.

When he had done Tom Fuller arose, and stood before him, white as death,
but with a noble look in his eyes.

"Mellon, give me your hand, for you and I are just the two most wretched
dogs in America at this minute. I loved her, Mellen, O God help me! I
love her as you did the other one. Great heavens, what can we do?"

"Nothing," answered Mellen; "I did not think another pang could be
added, and my soul recoils from this. Could she prove so base to you
also?"

"Base; look here, Mellen, you don't take this in the true light. It was
all my fault. I forced myself upon her; I--I----"

The poor fellow broke down, a convulsion of grief swept his face, and he
walked away.

Di