“Do not be frightened. I am not going to betray you--that is, unless you play me false. A woman whose trust is betrayed is usually capable of doing anything for revenge,” she said. “But I am sure you will not give me any cause for anger. We will be married soon, you know, and I should have no cause to betray your crime.” He stared blankly at her, and she heard his writhing lips repeat faintly: “‘Soon’?” She smiled at him with cool assurance. “Yes,” she replied. “You know my niece, Alexie, is to be married in January. I have decided that you and I will be married at the same time.” “Yes,” he replied, without remonstrance, but it piqued her that he received the communication without any sign of pleasure. “We will go abroad on our bridal tour,” she continued. “You know it is the great hope of my life to visit Europe.” “Yes,” he said again passively, as if she were making plans for another. But suddenly his dark eyes beamed, and he cried feverishly: “I have been abroad many times, but I remember my first trip with the keenest pleasure. Ronald Vale and I went together. We were chums--brothers. No woman had then come between us. It was the happiest time of my whole life.” * * * * * “Isn’t it really time for Italy and Mr. Murray to be getting back?” inquired Alexie, at length, as she and Ralph walked, arm in arm, upon the sands, happy lovers that they were. He looked at his watch in the clear rays of the moonlight, and exclaimed: “Positively, my darling, it is close upon midnight. I had no idea the time was going so fast.” “A tribute to my charms--thank you,” replied his pretty sweetheart vivaciously. “But, really, they have been gone two hours, have they not?” “It is nearer three hours. It was only nine o’clock when they started, and I’m sure they only meant it for a short sail. I hope nothing has happened them----” began Ralph anxiously. Then he stopped short and laughed. “Oh, what a joke! Feel the air, dear, how calm and still, almost sultry--not a breath of wind stirring. As sure as you live, they are becalmed, Alexie. There is not enough wind to fill their sail.” Some others of the party came up just then, and they all agreed that Ralph’s idea was the correct one, and that there was no cause for anxiety. “They are becalmed, and will have to wait for wind and tide, that is all,” said one vivacious young man; “but I am tremendously hungry, and don’t want to wait any longer for my lunch.” Every one else was of the same mind; so, while they discuss their dainty midnight supper, let us take a bird’s-eye view of the wide waste of moonlit waters in search of the truants. At first the dainty little dory sailed blithely before the freshening breeze, and the two occupants reveled in the beauty and sweetness of the summer night. Francis Murray, as if tempted for once to show his latent powers, bent his energies to the task of entertaining his lovely companion.