"Why will I not do it?" was sternly demanded.

They were standing near the door, so that their voices could be
heard distinctly in the next room.

"Because you love me too well," was the sweet, quiet answer. The
voice of Mrs. Abercrombie did not betray a single tremor.

All was hushed again. Then came another movement in the room, and
the sound of a closing drawer. Mr. and Mrs. Craig were beginning to
breathe more freely, when the noise as of some one springing
suddenly upon another was heard, followed by a struggle and a
choking cry. It continued so long that Mr. Craig ran out into the
hall and knocked at the door of General Abercrombie's room. As he
did so the noise of struggling ceased, and all grew still. The door
was not opened to his summons, and after waiting for a little while
he went back to his own room.

"This is dreadful," he said. "What can it mean? The general must be
insane from drink. Something will have to be done. He may be
strangling his poor wife at this very moment. I cannot bear it. I
must break open the door."

Mr. Craig started toward the hall, but his wife seized hold of him
and held him back.

"No, no, no!" she cried, in a low voice. "Let them alone. It may be
her only chance of safety. Hark!"

The silence in General Abercrombie's room was again broken. A man's