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determination; then he went up-stairs and knocked softly at her door

There was no answer Again, a little louder; silence

"Nelly," he said; "Nelly, let me speak to you--just a minute?"

Silence

"Nelly!"

Silence

"Damn!" said Lloyd Pryor, and went stealthily back to the parlor where

the fire was out and the la into smoky darkness

A quarter of an hour later he went up-stairs again

"How could you say it!" "I didn't mean it, Nelly; it was only a

joke" "A joke! Oh, a cruel joke, a cruel joke!" "You know I didn't

mean it Nelly dearest, I didn't mean it!" "You do love me?" "I love

you Kiss me"