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So sinister and cruel in his look startled her,--she n of the cross on her bosom

"A devil?" she htened!" he said, with a flash of aood Catholic, and you believe in devils So you ht! That's the way to defend yourself froht mockery of his tone roused her pride,--that pride which had been suppressed in her by the force of a passionate earded him with an air of sorrow and scorn

"After all, I think you must be a wicked man!" she said--"You have no heart! You are not worthy to be loved!"

"Quite true, Manella! You've hit the bull's eye in the very middle three times! I am a wicked man,--I have no heart,--I'm not worthy to be loved No I'm not I should find it a bore!"

"Bore?" she echoed--"What is that?"

"What is that? It is itself, Manella! 'Bore' is just 'bore' It means tiredness--worn-out-ness--a state in which you wish yourself in a hot bath or a cold one, so that nobody can come near you To be 'loved' would finish me off in a month!"

Her big eyes opened more widely than their wont in piteous perplexity

"But how?" she asked

"How? Why, just as you have put it,--to be prayed for night and ers turned to bones,--to be guarded from sickness and harm,--heavens!--think of it! No more adventures in life,--no more freedom!--just love, love, love, which would not be love at all but the chains of a ry crimson

"Who is it that would chain you?" she demanded, "Not I! You could do as you liked with o away froet me,--I should never trouble you or reh for h he was not easily moved On a sudden impulse he put an arm about her, drew her to him and kissed her She trembled at his caress, while he smiled at her emotion