anguished. ``You, too, desert me! Ah, God, whenever was there
man so wretched as I?'' He buried his face in his hands.

``Oh, you put it on well,'' she scoffed. ``But I know what it
all means.''

Mr. Feuerstein rose wearily. ``Farewell,'' he said in a broken
voice. ``At least I am glad you will be spared the suffering
that is blasting my life. Thank God, she did not love me!''

The physical fact of his rising to go struck her courage full in
the face.

``No--no,'' she urged hurriedly, ``not yet --not just yet--wait a
few minutes more--''

``No--I must go--farewell!'' And he seated himself beside her,
put his arm around her.

She lay still in his arms for a moment, then murmured: ``Say it
isn't so, Carl--dear!''

``I would say there is hope, heart's darling,'' he whispered,
``but I have no right to blast your young life. And I may never
return.''

She started up, her face glowing.

``Then you WILL return?''