“Do not grieve for me,” he said, gently, as almost involuntarily he wiped her tears away with his own handkerchief. “I know I must suffer as few suffer; but, Editha, believe me, I would rather you would be happy in _another’s_ care and love than _unhappy_ in _mine_. God bless you, my love—by one only love, and perhaps He will yet comfort me.” Editha arose and gave him her hand. She could not speak; she could not bear anything more. It was her “good-night” and “good-by,” for the early morning would find her on her way home. He watched her until the last flutter of her light robe disappeared from view, and then, springing to his feet as if a hot iron were burning his soul, he went out into the night to battle alone with his rebellious heart. The late mail that evening brought him letters containing important news from and requiring his immediate presence abroad. He left the next day for England, firmly believing, that he never should look upon the face of Editha Dalton in this world again. Mr. Dalton and his daughter returned to their home in the city, and settled down for the winter—Editha cheered and happy to see Earle occasionally and to know of his increasing success. Without saying anything to any one, on the morning of her twenty-first birthday she repaired to Mr. Felton’s office, and with a resolute face and steady hand, signed the papers that gave to Earle Wayne ten thousand dollars, together with a year’s interest, even as she had said she would do. These papers she desired should be taken to him at once, and in case he refused to accept the bequest, Mr. Felton was authorized to safely invest the money and retain the papers in his own possession until they should be called for. Earle firmly refused to touch a cent of it, saying his business was fast increasing, and he did not need it. It was therefore taken by Mr. Felton to the First National Bank, deposited in his name, and left to accumulate. CHAPTER XIV AN INTERVIEW INTERRUPTED One day Earle was looking over his papers and arranging them more systematically, when he came across a package containing the memoranda and evidence used during that “knotty case” wherein he was so successful. These had been wrapped in a newspaper, and had remained untouched since that time. As he was looking them over, and considering whether it would be best to keep them any longer or destroy them, his eye caught sight of a paragraph, or name rather, in the paper that instantly riveted his attention, and, with staring eyes and paling cheek, he read it eagerly through. Then he turned to look at the date of the paper. It was the very same that he had bought that night when he had been so forlorn and dreary, when for a week no one had come to him to get him to do even so much as a little copying, when he had counted his money and discovered all he possessed in the world was a little over two dollars.