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"Don't do that," Britt replied, soberly "YouI wish I could help you, but I see no way so long as your own parents and Clarke hiive me the authority"--here his voice became stern--"I will see that you are not troubled by any outside influence"

"You are very kind," she said, but her face expressed only a troubled liking, and he pressed her hand in both of his and silently went away

Young Clinton Ward also caer, contemptuous of any barrier so illusory as the fact of her trances, which she confessed to him Her words hardly impressed themselves on his mind, and he replied, flippantly: "That cuts no ice withtoo close and your nerves are sort of frazzled What you need is a jolly good tiet all about this business Come, I want folks to meet you My mother kno I feel about you, and is crazy to see you"

"What would she say if she knehat I have told you?" she asked, bitterly

"She won't mind--after she sees you," he answered, loyally "No one can know you without--without--Oh, hang it, Viola, you knohat Imatters when you love a person I want you, no matter what any one says And, besides, I don't see why you can't just chuck the whole bloo business I'll chuck Clarke out o' the , if you say the word He's just trying to work you, and--"

"You mustn't talk that way, Clinton"

"Why not? It's true"

"Well, because--" She hesitated, then said, as if to end her own uncertainty: "I am committed to this life--and to him My way is marked out, and I must walk in it"

The young felloas hard hit He sat looking at her with eyes of consternation and awe He tried to speak, but could not for a little while; at last he made a second trial "Do you mean--you don't mean--"

"Yes, I mean--all you think I mean," she answered, and then her fortitude failed her, and she turned away, her eyes filled with hot tears

He rose aardly, all his jaunty self-confidence gone "I take ht I hope you'll be happy--" He broke off with quivering lips

"I shall never be happy," she said, and the very caliven up all hope of being anything but an instru whose wishes do not count Good-bye, Clint," and she gave her hand