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There was a senuous remark, but only Mark and Bell liked Katy the better for it Wilford did not care to have her talking of her friends, and he kept her at the piano until she said her fingers were tired, and begged leave to stop

It was late ere Mark bade thean to wonder if he would never go, yawning once so perceptibly that Wilford gave her a reproving glance, which sent the hot blood to her face and drove froone the fa with Wilford until the city clock struck twelve and Katy was actually nodding in her chair

"Poor child, she is very tired," Wilford said, apologetically, gently waking Katy, who, really ed them to excuse her, and followed her husband to her room, where she was free to ask him what she must ask before she could ever be quite as happy as she had been before

Notwithstanding what Jaoing up to the chair where Wilford was sitting before the fire, and standing partly behind hi truly?"

Alone with Katy, Wilford felt all his old tenderness returning, and drawing her into his lap, he asked her what it was she wished to know

"Did you love anybody three or four years ago, or ever--that is, love theh to wish to make them your wife?"

Katy could feel how Wilford started, as he said: "What put that idea into your head? Who has been talking to you?"

"Juno," Katy answered "She told me she believed that it was so Was it, Wilford?" and Katy's lips quivered in a grieved kind of way as she put the question

"Juno be--"

Wilford did not say what, for he seldom swore, and never in a lady's presence, even if the lady were his wife So he said, instead: "It was very unkind in Juno to distress you thus with "

"But did you?" Katy asked again "Was there not a Sybil Grey, or some one of that name?"

At mention of Sybil Grey, Wilford looked relieved, and answered her at once: "Yes, there was a Sybil Grey, Mrs Judge Grandon now, and a dashingDon't sigh so wearily," he continued, as Katy drew a gasping breath "Knowing she was a , I chose you, thus shohich I preferred Few men live to be thirty without ht ripen into soer, and I am not an exception I never loved Sybil Grey, nor wished to make herall my acquaintances there is not one upon whoood an impression as upon her, nor one whose manner you could better imitate"