submitted. But you know with what an appeal my dying mother besought
my compliance, and what could I do? I cared for no one else. How was
I to foresee that the tie would ever be so intensely galling?

"I know all that you would say about honor, manhood, and all the
category of virtues. I know them all. Nor am I willing to act the
scoundrel just yet. But I must have time; I can _not_ marry that
girl now. Nor will I consent to meet her yet. Let her think I am out
of town, sick, busy, _dead_; anything, till I can screw my courage
to the sticking point.

"About the balloon tragedy--yes, you heard correctly of my figuring
in the matter. The girl is Miss Lina Dent, of Brooklyn, and I am
happy to report that she is entirely recovered, though deeply afflicted
at the fearful death of her friends. It seems that they had, in a
spirit of fun, gone up in the balloon, feeling confident that their
adventure was, to say the least, of somewhat doubtful propriety.
They did not think of danger. The cowardly desertion of the æronaut,
as soon as he could leap to a roof in safety, precipitated their fall.

"The young victims, Lucien and Maggie Taylor, were too much frightened
to hold to their frail support. Their tragic fate has plunged an
excellent household into mourning. Bitterly my new acquaintance
lamented her folly in consenting to the excursion; but how can a man
in his senses add to her condemnation when she looks through such
eyes, and speaks with such lips? Not I, I assure you.

"Miss Dent is visiting a relative in Brooklyn, and in my character of
physician, I have been kindly received. The strangest part of it all
is the odd way that girl looked at me when she knew enough to look