ed toward him, and he kissed her. He was still a crude man and
shrank from caressing even Dora in the presence of others.

"We'll meet again," she said, confidently; "don't let yourself believe
otherwise."

"All right, I won't." He forced himself to smile.

"Ten o'clock!" cried out Mr. Kirkwood, who was ready at the door. "You
mustn't miss that train. I'm going in to take my place. Come right in,
Brother McGwire."

"Then this must be good-by, darling John," Dora whispered. "I know you
won't want to push through the crowd to us afterward."

"Good-by--good-by," he said, and then he shook hands with Harold.
"Good-by, Harold," he said. "I'm leaving her with you."

"I'll do my best, Mr. Trott," Harold said, feelingly. "She is a treasure
and I am robbing you. God knows I wish it could be without pain to you."

"Nevermind; that is all right," John answered.

Mrs. McGwire and Minnie, a plain, rather gawky girl, went to the first
row of seats in the church, sat down, smiled knowingly at some friends
in the rear, and John and Betty followed. Some one at the organ played
a wedding march, and Harold and Dora came in and stood before the
waiting preacher.

It was soon over. The organ groaned mellowly, and Harold led Dora down
the aisle to the vestibule. The congregation followed like stampeding
cattle. John was left alone, the McGwires having hurried out through the
Sunday-school room to get a last sight of the pair as they entered the
carriage.

John met Mrs. McGwire outside as the carriage was disappearing down the
street. She said she and her daughters were going to stay awhile to
attend to the flowers and some other gifts, and he went home alone. The
massive door was locked, and, opening it with a pass-key, he entered the
hall. He heard Binks barking in the back yard and he went down to him.

"They didn't want you there, did they, Binks?" he said, taking the dog
in his arms. "You'd have made a row, wouldn't you? Well, she is gone,
old boy--you don't realize it now, but you will later, when you miss the
feeds and nice baths she gave you. She used to buy choice morsels for
you. I know, for I've seen the bones lying around."

The remainder of that day he spent in sheer torment, strolling about in
the parks with Binks, and when he returned home he found Betty and
Minnie alone in the parlor. Their eyes were red from weeping.

"It is on account of the way mother is taking it," Betty explained.
"She's gone to bed with a