The two girls chatted together, while Archie Ray looked on. He was a tall, handsome young man, with dark, pleading eyes, and possessed a charmingly aristocratic manner. He had been deeply in love with Marion before he went abroad, and now, when he saw her again, all the old tenderness came back to him, and he longed almost uncontrollably to press her to his bosom. But if Marion read his thoughts, she did not show it by so much as a glance. There was an open cordiality in her manner that baffled him completely. Suddenly Adele Ray’s face grew clouded in the midst of their talking. It was evident to Marion that she was thinking of something unpleasant. “Oh, Marion, dear, I want you to help us,” she said, slowly. “We have a terrible secret for your ears, but it has to be told, and the sooner the better. We want you to do us a favor, my brother and I, and, oh, Marion, dear, do give us your sympathy!” She looked so distressed that Marion’s cheeks grew pale, but she took Miss Ray’s hand and held it tightly. Archie Ray bit his lips and his face clouded a little. He had been momentarily dreading this particular moment, for he knew what was coming and would almost have given his life to have prevented it. “I will help you gladly,” Marion whispered quickly. “There is nothing you would ask that I would not willingly promise.” The fair girl little realized the blow which she was about to receive, else she could hardly have smiled as bravely as she did at that minute. Adele Ray leaned over and whispered something in her ear, and as Marion listened her cheeks grew as pale as death itself. “Is it possible?” she murmured, in a far-away voice, and then her wavering eyes met the glance of Adele Ray’s brother. The sadness in those dark eyes went straight to Marion’s heart. In an instant her own grief was put aside and she was willing to bear anything for this fond, noble brother. As she answered Adele’s appeal, she still looked at her brother and the words, “I will do it,” were said to him. To him she had given her sacred, secret promise. CHAPTER VI. MARION’S STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE. It was Reginald Brookes who sent a carriage for Marion on the day that she was allowed to leave the Chambers St. Hospital to return for a few days to the little flat in Harlem. Through some mysterious medium he had heard of Mr. Ray and was determined if possible to outdo his rival in kind attentions to Marion. “I’ll never stoop to anything but a fair fight,” he said to his mother, “and as this Mr. Ray is a gentleman, I have no doubt but that he is honorable. She must choose between us; when she does I shall be satisfied.” “You are as noble as you are sensible, my son,” was his mother’s fond answer, “and Miss Marlowe is not the girl, I am sure, to be fickle in her decision.” When Dr. Brookes reached the little flat to welcome Marion back from the hospital, he found Dollie and Miss Allyn much worried.