me beyond all bounds," Mrs.
Mencke returned, losing control of her temper; "and now there is just
one thing that I want to say to you, and that is that you are to drop
this fellow at once and for all time. I won't have any nonsense or
sentiment just because he happened to do what any other man with a germ
of humanity would have done to save you from a violent death. It is all
very well to feel properly grateful to him, and I intend to pay him
handsomely for it, only I don't want to hear anything more about him
from you."

Violet had grown very pale during the latter portion of this speech, and
her sister, who was observing her closely, could see that she was
trembling with suppressed emotions.

"Belle Mencke," she said, in a husky tone, "do you mean to say that you
intend to offer Mr. Richardson money in return for my life?"

"Of course. What else can I do? We must make him some acknowledgment,
and people in his station think more of money that of anything else,"
was the coarse response.

"That is false!" cried Violet, with blazing eyes. "Reverse your
statement, and say that people in your position think more of money than
of anything else, and you would come nearer the truth. Don't you dare to
insult that noble fellow by offering him money; if you do, I will never
forgive you while I live. Make him all the verbal acknowledgments you
please, as will be just and right, but don't forget that he is a
gentleman."

Mrs. Mencke saw that she had gone too far, and made an effort to control
herself. She knew, from experience, that when Violet was once thoroughly
aroused it was not an easy matter to tame her.

"There, Violet, you have said enough," she remarked, with forced
calmness. "You are only making yourself ridiculous, and I think we had
best drop the subject; only one thing I must insist upon, that you will
cut this young man's acquaintance at once."

She arose as she spoke to meet her husband, who entered at that moment,
and Violet flew to her own room to remove her black attire, and to ease
her aching heart by shedding a few scalding tears, which would not be
kept back.

It was very hard to hear Wallace spoken of so contemptuously when she
had learned to love him with all the strength of her soul, and knew him
to be, by nature and in character, far superior to the man whom her
sister called husband.

She did not regret what she had done that day, and she had no idea of
dropping Wallace Richardson's acquainta