His thoughts were so confused at the time, that he had paid little heed to the messenger or noticed what he had brought to Gerelda, or what their conversation was about, or that the boy fled like a dark-winged shadow down the corridor after he had executed his errand. She took her place by his side. Ah! how proud he was of her superb beauty, of her queenly carriage, and her haughty demeanor! Surely she was a bride worth winning--a queen among girls! Slowly and solemnly the marriage ceremony began. Varrick answered promptly and clearly the questions put to him. Then the minister turned to the slender, staturesque figure by his side. "Will you take this man to be your lawful, wedded husband, to love, honor, and obey him till death do you part?" he asked. At that moment all assembled thought they heard a low, muffled whistle. Before making answer, Gerelda raised the beautiful pearl and gold prayer-book and kissed it. She tried to speak the words: "I will;" but all in an instant her lips grew stiff and refused to utter them. No sound save a low gasp broke the terrible stillness. She had kissed the little prayer-book as she had so laughingly and thoughtlessly promised to do, ere she uttered the words that would make her Hubert Varrick's wife. And what had happened to her? She was gasping for breath--dying! The little book fell unheeded at her feet, and her head drooped backward. With a great cry, Hubert Varrick caught her. "It is only a momentary dizziness," said Varrick, half leading, half carrying her into the anteroom and up to the window, and throwing open the sash. "Rest here, my darling, while I fetch you a glass of water," he said, as he placed her in a chair and rushed from the room. The event just narrated had happened so suddenly that Mrs. Northrup and those in the outer apartment were for the time being fairly dazed, unable to move or stir. And by the time they had recovered their senses Hubert had reappeared with a glass of water in his hand. Mrs. Northrup was too excited to leave her seat; but the rest followed quickly on Hubert's heels to the anteroom. One instant more and a wild, hoarse cry in Varrick's voice echoed through the place. The room was empty! Where was Gerelda? There was no means of exit from that room save the door by which he had entered. Perhaps she had leaned from the window and fallen out. He rushed quickly to it and glanced down, with a wild prayer to Heaven to give him strength to bear what he might see lying on the ground below. But instead of a white, upturned face, and a shimmering heap of satin and lace, he beheld a ladder, which was placed close against the window; and half-way down upon it, caught firmly upon one of the rounds, he beheld a torn fragment of lace, which he instantly recognized as part of Gerelda's wedding veil. He could neither move nor speak. The sight held him spell-bound. By this time Mrs. Northrup reached his side.