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"Very little, I fear Hardly any No, Paul; it is hopeless, and I can't bear to talk about it Let ood-bye here and see one another no ain soiven you, dearest!" I exclaiive And we are friends, Ruth Whatever happens, you are the dearest friend I have on earth, or can ever have"

"Thank you, Paul," she said faintly "You are very good to o Ihand, and, as I took it, I was shocked to see how terribly agitated and ill she looked

"May I not come with you, dear?" I pleaded

"No, no!" she exclaio away by o, Ruth--if you rey eyes met mine and her lips quivered with an unspoken question

"You must promise me," I went on, "that if ever this barrier that parts us should be removed, you will let me know instantly Re for you always on this side of the grave"

She caught her breath in a little quick sob, and pressed my hand

"Yes," she whispered: "I proone; and, as I gazed at the eli, where she had paused for a moment to wipe her eyes I felt it, in a manner, indelicate to have seen her, and turned away my head quickly; and yet I was conscious of a certain selfish satisfaction in the sweet syone a horrible sense of desolation descended on me Only now, by the consciousness of irreparable loss, did I begin to realise theof this passion of love that had stolen unawares into laht over the dimly considered future: how all pleasures and desires, all hopes and aed upon it as a focus; how it had stood out as the one great reality behind which the other circu, half seen, ione--lost, as it seemed, beyond hope; and that which was left to me was but the empty frame from which the picture had vanished