careful to the last that no part of the envelope be torn.

He will read the cold letter. Cold, cold Esther! He kisses the
envelope again and again. The sheets are drawn from the inclosure.
She never wrote at such length before. He scans the first page. His
face grows cold with the old look of disappointment. He wishes he had
not read. He turns to the next page. The text changes in tone. There
succeeds a warmth that heats the heart aglow.

David Lockwin passes his hands across his eyes. He is dazed. He reads
on:

"Come back to me, my darling, and see how happy we shall be! Let the
politics go--that killed Davy and makes us all so unhappy. You were
created for something nobler. Let us go to Europe once more. Let's
seek the places where we have met in the past."

How much more of this can David Lockwin endure?

His temples rise and grow blood-red. The gas seems to give no light.
He reads like a man of short sight. His eyes kiss the sacred sheet.

"I love you! I love you! I shall die without you! Come home to me,
and save me! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love--!"

David Lockwin has fainted.

The glasses chink, and heavy feet tramp on soft carpets, making a
muffled sound.