folded on her lap, her eyes cast down in troubled thought, and a grieved
expression about her beautiful mouth, and he longed, with all the
earnestness of his generous nature, to help her in this emergency.

Suddenly his face lighted.

"Are you willing to confide in me the amount of your indebtedness, Mrs.
Bently?" he gently asked.

She falteringly named a sum that staggered him, and told him that she had
indeed been very extravagant.

"I--I have always had what I wanted. I have never had to count the cost
of anything, for my husband was very generous and indulgent," she
apologized, with evident embarrassment, as she met his grave look.

"May I make a practical suggestion without the fear of offending you?"
the young man questioned, with some confusion.

"Oh, if you would!" cried his companion, eagerly, her face brightening,
while she uttered a sigh of relief, as if she expected that his
suggestion, whatever it might be, would lift the burden from her heart.

"You have some very costly jewels," Mr. Cutler remarked, the color
deepening in his cheek as he glanced at the flashing stones in her ears;
"perhaps you would be willing to dispose of them and thus relieve
yourself from your present embarrassment."

"Oh, you mean sell my--my diamonds?" cried the lovely widow, with a
little nervous sob, and instantly her two white hands went up to her