woman. He flung his arm across the little still body and his head
fell on the cushion beside hers as his soul went down into the
depths.

* * * * *

An hour of unspeakable bitterness passed before he regained his
lost control.

Then he forced himself to look at her again. The poison had been
swift and merciful. There was no distortion of the little oval
face, no discoloration on the fair skin. She was as beautiful as
she had always been. And with death the likeness had become
intensified until it seemed to him that he must have been blind
beyond belief to have failed to detect it earlier.

He looked for the last time through a blur of tears. It seemed
horrible to leave her to the ministrations of others, he longed
to gather up the slender body in his arms and with his own hands
lay her in the loveliest corner of the garden she had loved so
much. He tried to stammer a prayer but the words stuck in his
throat. No intercession from him was possible, nor did she need
it. She had passed into the realm of Infinite Understanding.

He rose to his feet slowly and lingered for a moment looking
his last round the little room that was so familiar. Here were
a few of her most treasured possessions, some that had come to
her from her mother, some that he had given her. He knew them
all so well, had handled them so often. A spasm crossed his
face. It had been the home of the enchanted princess, shut off