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is mine！ Her eyes have told me that。 She is mine； I tell you； and
no man living will take her from me。〃 The fire that always
slumbered in his eyes was now blazing in full fury。 The great
passion of his life was raging through his soul； vibrating in his
voice； and glowing in his dark face。 Miss St。 Clair sat silent；
and then motioned him to a seat。
〃Mr。 Macdonald；〃 she said； with grave courtesy； 〃you are too late；
I fear。 I did not realizeMaimie will never be yours。 I know my
niece。〃 At the sad earnestness of her voice； Ranald's face began
to grow pale。
〃I will wait for her；〃 he said； quietly。
〃I beg you will not。〃
〃I will wait；〃 he repeated； with lips tight pressed。
〃It is vain； Mr。 Macdonald； I assure you。 Spare yourself and her。
I know whatI could have〃 Her voice grew husky。
〃I will wait；〃 once more replied Ranald； the lines of his face
growing tense。
Miss St。 Clair rose and gave him her hand。 〃I will send a friend
to you； and I beg you to excuse me；〃 Ranald bowed gravely； 〃and to
forgive me；〃 and she left the room。 Ranald heard her pass through
the hall and up the stairs and then a door closed behind her。
Before he had time to gather his thoughts together he heard a voice
outside that made his heart stand still。 Then the front door
opened quickly and Maimie and De Lacy stood in the hall。 She was
gayly talking。 Ranald rose and stood with his back to the door。
Before him was a large mirror which reflected the hall through the
open door。 He stood waiting for them to enter。
〃Hang up your hat； Captain De Lacy； then go in and find a chair
while I run upstairs；〃 cried Maimie； gayly。 〃You must learn your
way about here now。〃
〃No；〃 said De Lacy； in a low； distinct voice。 〃I can wait no
longer； Maimie。〃
She looked at him a moment as if in fear。
〃Come；〃 he said； holding out his hands to her。 〃There was no
chance in the park； and I can wait no longer。〃 Slowly she came
near。 〃My darling； my sweetheart；〃 he said； in a low voice full of
intense passion。 Then； while she lay in his arms； he kissed her on
the lips twice。 Ranald stood gazing in the mirror as if fascinated。
As their lips met a low groan burst from him。 He faced about； and
with a single step； stood in the doorway。 Shriek after shriek
echoed through the house as Maimie sprang from De Lacy's arms and
shrank back to the wall。
〃Great heavens；〃 cried De Lacy； 〃why it's Macdonald！ What the
deuce do you mean coming in on people like that？〃
〃What is it； Maimie；〃 cried her Aunt Frank； hurrying down stairs。
Then she saw Ranald standing in the doorway； with face bloodless；
ghastly； livid。 Quickly she went up to him； and said； in a voice
trembling and not ungentle： 〃Oh； why did you wait； Mr。 Macdonald；
go away now； go away。〃
Ranald turned and looked at her with a curious uncomprehending
gaze； and then said； 〃Yes； I will go away。〃 He took a step toward
Maimie； his eyes like lurid flames。 She shrank from him； while De
Lacy stepped in his path。 With a sweep of his arm he brushed De
Lacy aside； hurling him crashing against the wall； and stood before
the shrinking girl。
〃Good by； Maimie； forget that I loved you once。〃
The words came slowly from his pallid lips。 For some moments he
stood with his burning eyes fastened upon her face。 Then he turned
slowly from her and groped blindly for his hat。 Miss St。 Clair
hurried toward him； found his hat； and putting it in his hand；
said； in a broken voice； while tears poured down her cheeks： 〃Here
it is； good by； good by。〃
He looked at her a moment as if in surprise； and then； with a smile
of rare sweetness on his white lips； he said； 〃I thank you；〃 and
passed out； going feebly like a man who has got a death wound。
CHAPTER XXIII
A GOOD TRUE FRIEND
It was springtime and the parks and avenues were in all the dainty
splendor of their new leaves。 The afternoon May sun was flooding
the city with gold and silver light； and all the air was tremulous
with the singing of birds。 A good day it was to live if one could
only live in the sunny air within sight of the green leaves and
within sound of the singing birds。 A day for life and love it was；
at least so Kate thought as she drew up her prancing team at the
St。 Clair house where Harry stood waiting for her。
〃DEAR Kate；〃 he cried； 〃how stunning you are！ I love you！〃
〃Come； Harry； jump up！ Breton is getting excited。〃
〃Stony…hearted wretch；〃 grumbled Harry。 〃Did you hear me tell you
I love you？〃
〃Nonsense； Harry； jump in； I'll report to Lily Langford。〃
〃Don't tell；〃 pleaded Harry； 〃and do keep Breton on all fours。
This isn't a circus。 You terrify me。〃
〃We have only time to make the train； hurry up！〃 cried Kate。
〃Steady； my boys。〃
〃Some day； Kate； those 'boys' of yours will be your death or the
death of some of your friends；〃 said Harry； as he sprang in and
took his place beside Kate。 〃That Breton ought to be shot。 It
really affects my heart to drive with you。〃
〃You haven't any； Harry； you know that right well； so don't be
alarmed。〃
〃Quite true；〃 said Harry； sentimentally； 〃not since that night；
don't you remember； Kate； when you〃
〃Now； Harry； I only remind you that I always tell my girl friends
everything you say。 It is this wedding that's got into your
blood。〃
〃I suppose so；〃 murmured Harry； pensively； 〃wish it would get into
yours。 Now seriously； Kate； at your years you ought〃
〃Harry；〃 said Kate； indignantly； 〃I really don't need you at the
station。 I can meet your aunt quite well without you。 Shall I set
you down here； or drive you to the office？〃
〃Oh； not to the office； I entreat！ I entreat！ Anything but that！
Surely I may be allowed this day！ I shall be careful of your
sensitive points； but I do hope this wedding of Maimie's will give
you serious thoughts。〃
Kate was silent； giving her attention doubtless to her team。 Then；
with seeming irrelevance； she said： 〃Didn't I see Colonel Thorp
yesterday in town？〃
〃Yes； the old heathen！ I haven't forgiven him for taking off
Ranald as he did。〃
〃He didn't take off Ranald。 Ranald was going off anyway。〃
〃How do you know？〃 said Harry。
〃I know；〃 replied Kate； with a little color in her cheek。 〃He told
me himself。〃
〃Well； old Thorp was mighty glad to get him； I can tell you that。
The old sinner！〃
〃He's just a dear！〃 cried Kate。 〃Yes； he was glad to get Ranald。
What a splendid position he gave him。〃
〃Oh； yes； I know； he adores you like all the rest； and so you think
him a dear。〃
But this Kate ignored for the team were speeding along at an
alarming pace。 With amazing skill and dash she threaded her way
through the crowded streets with almost no checking of her speed。
〃Do be careful；〃 cried Harry； as the wheels of their carriage
skimmed the noses of the car…horses。 〃I am quite sure my aunt will
not be able to recognize me。〃
〃And why not？〃
〃Because I shall be gray…haired by the time I reach the station。〃
〃There's the train I do believe；〃 cried Kate； flourishing her whip
over her horses' backs。 〃We must not be late。〃
〃If we ever get there alive；〃 said Harry。
〃Here we are sure enough。〃
〃Shall I g