Though her face was slightly averted, Darrell could see the tear-drops falling, but after a slight pause she proceeded as calmly as before: "In all these years he has tried to be both father and mother to me, and even in this he thinks he is acting for my good. I have never disobeyed him, and were I to do so now I believe it would break his heart. I am all that he has left, and after what he has suffered in his silent, Spartan way, I must bring joy--not sorrow--to his declining years. And this will be my only reason for yielding." "But, Kathie, dear child," Darrell interposed, "have you considered what such a life means to you--what is involved in such a sacrifice?" She met his troubled gaze with a smile. "Yes, I know," she replied; "there is not a phase of this affair which I have not considered. I am years older than when we met three months ago, and I have thought of everything that a woman can think of." She watched him a moment, the smile on her lips deepening. "Have you considered this?" she asked. "Only those whom we love have the power to wound us deeply; one whom I do not love will have little power to hurt me; he can never reach my heart; that will be safe in your keeping." Darrell bowed his head upon his hands with a low moan. Kate, laying her hand lightly upon his shoulder, continued: "What I particularly wanted you to know before our parting and to remember is this: that come what may, I shall never be false to my love for you. No matter what the future may bring to you or to me, my heart will be yours." Darrell raised his head, his face tense and rigid with emotion; she had risen and was standing beside him. "I can never forgive myself for having won your heart, Kathie," he said, gravely; "It is the most precious gift that I could ask or you could bestow, but one to which I have no right." "Then hold it in trust," she said, softly, "until such time as I have the right to bestow it upon you and you have the right to accept it." Startled not only by her words but by the gravity of her tone and manner, Darrell glanced swiftly towards Kate, but she had turned and was slowly climbing the mountain path. Springing to his feet he was quickly at her side. Drawing her arm within his own he assisted her up the rocky trail, scanning her face as he did so for some clew to the words she had just spoken. But, excepting a faint flush which deepened under his scrutiny, she gave no sign, and, the trail for the next half-hour being too difficult to admit of conversation, they made the ascent in silence.