``It may be that I can,'' he answered. ``But--''

``Then I'll wait--gladly. No matter how long it is, I'll wait.
Why didn't you say at first, `Hilda, something I can't tell you
about has happened. I must go away. When I can, I'll come.'
That would have been enough, because I--I love you!''

``What have I done to deserve such love as this!'' he exclaimed,
and for an instant he almost forgot himself in her beauty and
sweetness and sincerity.

``Will it be long?'' she asked after a while.

``I hope not, bride of my soul. But I can not--dare not say.''

``Wherever you go, and no matter what happens, dear,'' she said
softly, ``you'll always know that I'm loving you, won't you?''
And she looked at him with great, luminous, honest eyes.

He began to be uncomfortable. Her complete trust was producing
an effect even upon his nature. The good that evil can never
kill out of a man was rousing what was very like a sense of
shame. ``I must go now,'' he said with real gentleness in his
voice and a look at her that had real longing in it. He went on:
``I shall come as soon as the shadow passes--I shall come soon,
Herzallerliebste!''

She was cheerful to the last. But after he had left she sat
motionless, except for an occasional shiver. From the music-
stand came a Waldteufel waltz, with its ecstatic throb and its