Reed--Eileen--what is the matter?"

"The matter is, Boy, that I love you with all my heart and soul." And
as he held her in his arms he whispered: "And I love you."

For the first time since he had held her in his arms early that
evening her reason asserted itself for a moment, and she pressed her
hand over his lips to stifle the words. She had thought of poor little
Marjory and her white face in the stream, and of a thousand other
reasons why they should part. There were sacred promises on both sides
to be kept. "But be mine," she pleaded, "just for tonight."

He held her in his arms; she was his very own, and she counted his
heart-throbs as they beat against her breast. He scented the perfume
of her breath against his cheek, and drank deep of the wine of her red
lips, as she whispered again her sweet confession through a mist of
tears.... "The Woman Thou Gavest Me!"

No one could better grace love's throne, nor rule more royally. Voice
so low and tender and heart so warm, all herself she gave, and gladly,
thoughtlessly, recklessly. Is it true that all humanity means to do
right though often wrong: that the heart at times must obey the
mandates of circumstances and environment: that even the purest and
best succumb to temptation? Another day, and reason rules!

He was engaged to a girl who had been his little sweetheart as far
back as he could remember. He had carried her books and pulled her
sled and fought her battles, and now he surely would never break her
heart. There is duty; an invention of the Devil, but it must be met,
though hearts break and burn; though we wander through a desert of