“Well, I couldn't sleep with the thought that a man was going to kill himself on my account. It makes me shudder. I'd see his face in my dreams every night of my life. Then if a note were really found in his hands, addressed to me, the whole thing would come out in the newspapers, and wouldn't that be horrible? Of course I couldn't tell my cousins anything about his threat, so I invented my excuse quickly, packed a small handbag, disguised myself with Cousin Laura's hat and veil, and took the same train that Tom took. I've kept my eye on him ever since, and he has no idea I'm on his track. The only time I lost was in hurrying home with my handbag to see my aunt, but I didn't even do that until I'd followed him on Chestnut Street to the down-town box-office of this theatre and seen him buy a seat, which I later found out from the ticket-seller was for to-night. So here I am, and there he is.” “Where?” “Standing over there by that wire thing like a fence next the street.” The doctor looked over as she motioned. He soon recognized the slender figure, the indolent attitude of Tom Appleton, the blasé young man whom he was so accustomed to meeting at billiard-tables, in clubs, or hotels. A tolerant, amiable expression saved the youth's smooth, handsome face from vacuity. He was dressed with careful nicety. “But,” said Haslam, “a man about to take leave of this life doesn't ordinarily waste time going to the opera.” “Why not? He probably came here to think. One can do that well at the opera.” “Tom Appleton think?--I beg pardon again. But see, he's talking to a girl now, Miss Estabrook, of North Broad Street. His smile to her is not the kind of a smile that commonly lights up a man's face on his way to death.” “You don't suppose he would conceal his intentions from people by putting on his usual gaiety, do you?” she replied, ironically; adding, rather stiffly, “He has at least sufficiently good manners to do that, if not sufficient duplicity.” “I didn't mean to offend you. My motive was to comfort you with the probability that he has changed his mind about shuffling off his mortal coil.” “You're not very complimentary, Doctor Haslam. Perhaps you don't think that being jilted by me is sufficient to make a man commit suicide.” “Frankly I don't. If I had thought so three years ago, I'd be dust or ashes at this present moment. It can't be that you would feel hurt if Tom Appleton there should fail to keep his oath and should continue to live in spite of your renunciation of him?” “How dare you think me so vain and cruel, when I've taken all this trouble and come all this distance simply to prevent him from keeping his oath?” “But how in the world would you prevent him if he were honestly bent on getting rid of himself?”