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In the kitchen was only the fireglow, he could not see her

He quivered with dread lest she had gone--he knew not

where In shrinking dread, he went through to the parlour, to

the foot of the stairs

"Anna," he called

There was no answer He went up the stairs, in dread of the

e with insanity He opened the bedroom door, and his heart

flashed with certainty that she had gone, that he was alone

But he saw her on the bed, lying very still and scarcely

noticeable, with her back to hiently, hesitating, in a great fear and

self-offering She did not move

He waited The hand that touched her shoulder hurt hi it away He stood dim with pain

"Anna," he said

But still she was motionless, like a curled up, oblivious

creature His heart beat with strange throes of pain Then, by a

herself

hard so that her tears should not be known He waited The

tension continued--perhaps she was not crying--then

suddenly relapsed with a sharp catch of a sob His heart fla carefully on the bed,

so that his earthy boots should not touch it, he took her in his

ar