night because--because I believed you to be a gentleman."

"And now? henceforth?"

Her eyes never wavered, although there was a high color in her cheeks
as my hands clasped her own more closely.

"I am convinced I chose aright. You are the man I thought you to be.
I am glad I came."

For an instant the hot blood coursed through my veins; I seemed to see
only the beauty of her flesh. Wild words leaped to my lips, only to be
choked back unspoken, although I scarcely knew what strength combined
to win the swift struggle. Impulse, made with sudden revelation of
love, swept me perilously near to outburst, yet reason held
sufficiently firm to restrain; the flood of passion. I knew I must
refrain; I read it in the calm depths of those eyes fronting me in
frank friendship. A word, a single, mad, ill-considered word, would
sever the bond between us as though cleft by a sword. With any other I
might have dared all, but not with her. Reckless as my nature had
grown in the hard school of life, I shrank from this test, dreading to
see her face change, her attitude harden. And it would; there had
already been sufficient revealment of her character to make me aware of
how firm a line she drew between right and wrong. It was not in her
nature to compromise. She trusted, me--yes! But as a "gentleman."
Should I fail in that test of her faith I could never again hope to
regain my place in her esteem. I have wondered since how I ever won
that swift, deadly battle; how I ever crushed back the wild passion,
the mad impulse to clasp her In my arms. Yet, under God's mercy I did,
my voice emotionless, my face white from restraint, my lips dry as with