"You know best," she said, quietly. There was something in her manner that reminded him of the calm dignity of her father. "You do not understand me," he said, earnestly, "and I cannot explain, and yet I will go this far. My parents have left me a mystery to unfathom; until I have solved it I shall not come back, I cannot come back." He took her hand in both of his. "It is this that restrains me; you have been a true friend; it grieves me that I cannot share my troubles with you and ask your woman's judgment, but I cannot--I cannot! I only ask that you keep me always in your memory, as you will always be the brightest spot in mine." She was now pale and deeply affected by his tone and manner. "You cannot tell me, Mr. Morgan?" "Not even you, the woman I love; the only woman I have ever loved. Ah, what have I said?" She had withdrawn her hand and was looking away. "Forgive me; I did not know what I was saying. I, a man under indictment for murder, a possible felon, an unknown!" The young girl looked at him fearlessly. "You are right. You can rely upon friendship, but under the circumstances nothing can justify you in speaking of love to a woman--you do not trust." "Do not trust! You cannot mean that!" She had turned away proudly and would have left him. "I have seen so little of women," he said. "Let that be my excuse. I would trust you with my life, my honor, my happiness--but I shall not burden you with my troubles. I have everything to offer you but a name. I have feared to tell you; I have looked to see you turn away in suspicion and distrust--in horror. I could not. But anything, even that, is better than reproach and wrong judging. "I tell you now that I love you as no woman was ever loved before; that I have loved you since you first came into my life, and that though we be parted by half a world of space, and through all eternity, I still shall love you. But I shall never, so help me heaven, ask the woman I love to share an unknown's lot! You have my reasons now; it is because I do love you that I go away." He spoke the words passionately. And then he found her standing close to his side. "And I," she said, looking up into his face through tearful but smiling eyes, "do not care anything for your name or your doubts, and I tell you, Edward Morgan, that you shall not go away; you shall not leave me." He caught his breath and stood looking into her brave face. "But your family--it is proud----" "It will suffer nothing in pride. We will work out this little mystery together." She extended her hand and, taking it, he took her also. She drew back, shaking her head reproachfully. "I did not mean that." He was about to reply, but at that moment a scene was presented that filled them both with sudden shame. How true it is that in the midst of life we are in death. The hearse had passed the gate. Silently they entered the house. He led her back to the side of the dead man.