ominous. Mrs. Walrond felt it from the first, and they, the two persons
concerned, felt it also.

"Our joy frightens me," said Anthony to Barbara one day. "I feel like
that Persian monarch who threw his most treasured ring into the sea
because he was too fortunate; you remember the sea refused the offering,
for the royal cook found it in the mouth of a fish."

"Then, dear, he was doubly fortunate, for he made his sacrifice and kept
his ring."

Anthony, seeing that Barbara had never heard the story and its ending,
did not tell it to her, but she read something of what was passing in
his mind, as very often she had the power to do.

"Dearest," she said earnestly, "I know what you think. You think that
such happiness as ours will not be allowed to last for long, that
something evil will overtake us. Well, it may be so, but if it is, at
least we shall have had the happiness, which having been, will remain
for ever, a part of you, a part of me; a temple of our love not built
with hands in which we shall offer thanks eternally, here and--beyond,"
and she nodded towards the glory of the sunset sky, then turned and
kissed him.

As it chanced, that cruel devouring sea which rages at the feet of
all mankind was destined ere long to take the offering that was most
precious to these two. Only this was flung to its waters, not by their
hands, but by that of Fate, nor did it return to them again.