"Oh! I might have known it, I might have guessed it!" she wildly cried, clutching at Varrick's arm. "She must have eloped with--with Captain Frazier," she whispered. "Hush!" cried Varrick. "I know it, I believe it, but no one must know. I see it all. She repented of marrying me at the eleventh hour, and ere it was too late she fled with the lover who must have awaited her, in an agony of suspense, outside." All the guests had gathered about them. "Where is Miss Gerelda?" they all cried in a breath. "She must have fallen from the window," they echoed; and immediately there was a stampede out toward the grounds. In the excitement of the moment no one noticed that Hubert Varrick and Mrs. Northrup were left behind. "Help me to bear this dreadful burden, Hubert!" she sobbed, hoarsely. "I think I am going mad. I thank God that Gerelda's father did not live to see this hour!" Great as her grief was, the anguish on the face which Hubert Varrick raised to hers was pitiful to behold. She was terrified. She saw that he needed comfort quite as much as herself. The minister, who had entered the room unobserved, had heard all. He quitted the apartment as quickly as he had entered it, and hurried through the corridor to his friend Doctor Roberts. "The greatest blessing you could do, doctor, would be to come to him quickly, and give him a potion that will make him dead to his trouble for a little while." CHAPTER III. "WHEN THOSE WE LOVE DRIFT AWAY FROM US THEY ARE NEVER THE SAME AGAIN-- THEY NEVER COME BACK." "Only a heart that's broken, That is, if hearts can break; Only a man adrift for life, All for a woman's sake. Your love was a jest--I now see it-- Now, though it's rather late; Yes, too late to turn my life And seek another fate." Although search was instantly instituted for the missing bride-elect, not the slightest trace of her could be discovered. Was she Hubert Varrick's bride or not? There was great diversity of opinion about that. Many contended that she _was not_, because the words from the minister: "Now I pronounce you man and wife," _had not yet been uttered_. No wonder the beauty had found it difficult to choose between handsome Hubert Varrick and the dashing captain. Varrick was a millionaire, and Captain Frazier could easily write out his check for an equal amount. The matter was hushed up quickly, and kept so quiet that even the simple village folk at Alexandria Bay never knew of the thrilling event that had taken place in their very midst at the Crossmon Hotel. If the simple fisher-folk had but known of it, a tragedy might have been averted. Mrs. Northrup was the first to recover from the shock; grief gave place to the most intense anger, and as she paced the floor excitedly to and fro, she vowed to herself that she would never forgive Gerelda for bringing this disgrace upon her.