THE crucial moment had arrived, and I think my heart actually stopped
beating as I stood gazing helplessly into her face. I saw her eyes open
wide in astonished recognition, and then a deep flush swept over throat
and cheek. For the instant I believed she would not speak, or that she
would give way to her excitement and betray everything. I durst give no
signal of warning, for there existed no tie between us to warrant my
expecting any consideration from her. It was an instant so tense that
her silence seemed like a blow. Yet it was only an instant. Then her
eyes smiled into mine most frankly, and her hand was extended.

"I am more than delighted to meet you, Colonel Curran," she said
calmly, although I could feel her lips tremble to the words, while the
fingers I held were like ice. "Myrtle was one of my dearest friends,
and she chanced to be in my mind even as we met. That was why," she
added, turning toward Miss Minor, as though she felt her momentary
agitation had not passed unobserved, "I was so surprised when you first
presented Colonel Curran."

"I confess to having felt strangely myself," returned the other,
archly, "although I believe I concealed my feelings far better than you
did, Edith. Really, I thought you were going to faint. It must be that
Colonel Curran exercises some strange occult influence over the weaker
sex. Perhaps he is the seventh son of a seventh son; are you, Colonel?
However, dear, I am safe for the present from his mysterious spell, and
you will be compelled to face the danger alone, as here comes
Lieutenant Hammersmith to claim the dance I've promised him."

Before Mrs. Brennan could interfere, the laughing girl had placed her
hand on the Lieutenant's blue sleeve, and, with a mocking good-bye
flung backward over her shoulder, vanished in the crowd, leaving us