“Yes,” she sighed, glancing down with a tenderness in her tone which she intended that he should not mistake. “I should not speak the words that are trembling on my lips, but your kindness gives courage to my frightened heart, and I will dare incur your displeasure, perhaps, by uttering them; but you must know, you who are so beautiful that all men love you--you whom to gaze upon is to become lost.” “I--I do not know what you mean, Mr. Dinsmore,” she murmured, with shy, averted eyes and downcast, blushing face, thinking how different this proposal was to the score of others she had received. “May I dare tell you? Promise me you will not be very angry,” he said, humbly, “and that you will forgive me.” But he did not wait for her answer, he dared not pause to think, lest his courage should fail him, but cried huskily: “Pardon me if I am brusque and abrupt, sweet girl, but the words are forcing themselves like a torrent from my heart to my lips--ah, Heaven, you must have guessed the truth ere this, Queenie! I love you! I love you with a passion so great it is driving me mad. Let me pray my prayer to you, let me kneel at your feet and utter it. Ah, Heaven! words fail me to tell you how dearly I love you, my darling. My life seems to have merged completely into yours. I love you so dearly and well, if you send me from you, you will wreck my life--break my heart. I cast my life as a die upon your yes or no. Look at me, darling, and answer me--will you be my wife, Queenie. For Heaven’s sake say yes and end my agitation and my misery. Is your answer life or death for me, my love?” CHAPTER II. A WORSHIPER OF WEALTH. “I have two lovers, both brave and gay; And they both have spoken their minds to-day; They both seem dying for love of me; Well, if I choose one of them, which shall it be? One is handsome, and tall, and grand, With gold in the bank and acres of land, And he says he will give them all to me If only I’ll promise his wife to be. The other is bonny, and blithe, and true, With honest face bronzed, and eyes of blue; But the wealth of his heart is the only thing He can give to me with the wedding ring. Yes, both seem dying for love of me; Well, if I choose one of them, which shall it be?” Queenie Trevalyn looked up archly into the handsome, agitated face bending over her, and blushed deeply. “Before I answer you, let me remind you that you are quite a stranger to us, Mr. Dinsmore; you have not chosen to make a confidant of any one concerning your personal history--from whence you came, or--or--your standing in the community in which you reside,” she murmured, sweetly.