und the plain gold ring on her left hand. "If he
had threatened anything else but to desert me," she went on again
presently, "I could go to him; but it's no use in trying, I cannot do
it."

She rose with a weary sigh and went over to the table and listlessly
took up the parcel. She had no curiosity as to its contents, as was
shown by her sitting down again without opening it. Resting her chin
on her hand she drifted into thoughts that plainly were not happy
ones. Finally she again sighed deeply and leaned back in her chair.
Her eyes fell upon the parcel. Indifferently she slipped off the cord
and began to unwrap the paper. Something slipped on her lap, and she
looked mechanically down; the paper and string, which was still in her
hand, fluttered to the floor, her lips parted, her eyes dilated and
her face grew pitifully pale. As though fascinated, she continued to
gaze at the poor soiled little boots. Her laboring heart at last threw
off its torpor and drove the rich color once more back to her face,
and then with a cry, full of unutterable love she caught up the
precious little things, kissed, cooed, wept and fondled them
passionately. "My dear, dead darling," she sobbed. Sinking on her
knees by the side of the chair, she fondled them afresh and pressed
her lips hungrily to the spot where the inquisitive little toe had
forced an opening.

Presently the sound of footsteps fell upon her ears. She sprang to her
feet. "It is Harold!" she exclaimed excitedly. In her new tender mood
she had almost forgotten her resentment toward him. Then an impulse
flashed suddenly into her mind--happily she acted upon it. Hastily
wrapping up the boots again, she hurriedly placed them on the table,
in a position which she thought would attract her husband's attention,
and then she sped across the room and hid behind the heavy curtains
which screened the deep bay window. She had not been mistaken--it was
her husband.

He was wearing his great-coat and had evidently been preparing to go
out. She could see from her hiding-place that his absent mood was
still strong upon him.

"I--I wish," he said, thoughtfully, to himself, as he entered the
room, "that John had thought to bring the parcel; this room is filled
with memories of her, and it makes it harder to go." He stopped and
looked regretfully around the room; then, noticing the parcel, he
walked listlessly over to the table, took it up and ponderingly began
to unfold it; the secret th