"Oh, I am so glad; I knew Myrtle had a brother, but never heard he also
was in the army. Did you know, Colonel, she was intending to come down
here with me when I returned South, at the close of our school year,
but from some cause was disappointed. How delighted she would have been
to meet you! I shall certainly write and tell her what a splendidly
romantic time we had together. You look so much like Myrtle I wonder I
failed to recognize you at once."

She was rattling on without affording me the slightest opportunity to
slip in a word explanatory, when her glance chanced to fall upon some
one who was approaching us through the throng.

"Oh, by the way, Colonel, there is another of Myrtle's old schoolmates
present to-night--a most intimate friend, indeed, who would never
forgive me if I permitted you to go without meeting her."

She drew me back hastily.

"Edith," she said, touching the sleeve of a young woman who was slowly
passing, "Edith, wait just a moment, dear; this is Colonel Curran--
Myrtle Curran's brother, you know. Colonel Curran, Mrs. Brennan."




CHAPTER XVI

THE WOMAN I LOVED