brotherhood of man as when one loves some other
fellow's sister. Warwick sprang from his chair and
clasped Tryon's extended hand with real emotion.
He knew of no man whom he would have preferred
to Tryon as a husband for his sister.

"My dear George--my dear sister," he
exclaimed, "I am very, very glad. I wish you
every happiness. My sister is the most fortunate
of women."

"And I am the luckiest of men," cried Tryon.

"I wish you every happiness," repeated Warwick;
adding, with a touch of solemnity, as a certain
thought, never far distant, occurred to him,
"I hope that neither of you may ever regret your
choice."

Thus placed upon the footing of an accepted
lover, Tryon's visits to the house became more
frequent. He wished to fix a time for the marriage,
but at this point Rena developed a strange reluctance.

"Can we not love each other for a while?" she
asked. "To be engaged is a pleasure that comes
but once; it would be a pity to cut it too short."

"It is a pleasure that I would cheerfully dispense
with," he replied, "for the certainty of possession.