w that I was only waiting the outcome of this trip to
tell you how dearly I love you. Surely, you encouraged me in thinking
you cared for me a little, Shelley. Only a little will do to begin
with----'"

"You see, I DID have something to go on!" cried Shelley, wiping her
eyes and straightening up.

"'No doubt you misunderstood and resented my going without coming to
explain, and bid you good-bye in person, but Shelley, _I_ SIMPLY DARED
NOT. You see, it was this way: I got a cable about the case I was
always talking of, and the only man who could give the testimony I MUST
HAVE was dying!'"

"For land's sake! The poor boy!" cried mother, patting Shelley's
shoulder.

"'An hour's delay might mean the loss of everything in the world to me,
even you. For if I lost any time, and the man escaped me, there was no
hope of winning my case, and everything, even you, as I said before,
depended on him----'"

"Good Lord! I mean land!" cried Leon.

"'If I could catch the train in an hour, I could take a boat at New
York, and go straight through with no loss of time. So I wrote you a
note that probably said more than I would have ventured in person, and
paid a boy to deliver it.'"

"Kept the money and tore up the note, I bet!" said May.

"'I wrote on the train, but found after sailing that I had rushed so I
had failed to post it in New York. I kept on writing every day on the
boat, and mailed you six at Liverpool. All the time I have written
frequently; there are many more here that this envelope will not hold,
that I shall save until I hear from you.'"

"Well, well!" said father.

"'Shelley, I beat death, reached my man, got the testimony I had to
have, and won my case.'"

"Glory!" cried mother. "Praise the Lord!"

"'Then I scoured England, and part of the continent, hunting some
interested parties; and when I was so long finding them, and still no
word came from you, I decided to come back and get you, if you would
come with me, and go on with the work together.'"

"Listen to that! More weddings!" cried Leon. He dropped on his knees
before Shelley. "Will you marry me, my pretty maid?" he begged.

"Young man, if you cut any capers right now, I'll cuff your ears!"
cried father. "This is no proper time for your foolishness!"

"'Shelley, I beg that you will believe me, and if you care for me in
the very least, telegraph if I may come. Quick! I'm half insane to
see you. I have many things to tell you, f