"What is that, Don? What do you mean? Oh, I see--_it is because of her_. It's Anne! There's someone else you love, more than you do me." "Yes!" he confessed, "more than I do life. _That's_ the reason I must know all about myself. Can't you see I've got to play fair? There's Anne!" "Who is she, Don--you've never told me very much yet." "Anne Oglesby--her family lived at Columbus before she was left alone. You know her--why, she's the ward of Judge Henderson, here in town. I believe she was left a considerable estate, and he handles it for her. She's been here. She's told me about this place--she's seen you, maybe--before I ever did. Yes--it's Anne! I've got to think of her. I don't dare drag her into trouble--my hands are tied." He rose now, and in his excitement walked away from his mother, so that he did not note her face at the moment. "You see, we met from time to time back East in our college town. I never told her much about myself, because I didn't know much about myself, really, when it comes to that. I said I was an orphan, and poor. But--I'd made all the teams--and I've studied, too. I was valedictorian, in spite of all, Mother. They don't amount to much, usually--valedictorians--but I was sure I would--when I knew that Anne---- "I didn't know about our caring for one another until we found we had to part--just now, today, this morning on the train before I got off here. Then we couldn't part, you know. So just before we passed through this town, right on the train--today, in less than half an hour before I met you--this morning, this very day, I--we--well----" "Yes, Don," she said, "I know!" Her eyes were very large, her face very pale. He choked. "But now we've got to part," said he. "If I am nobody, or worse, I've got to be fair with her." A look of pride came into his mother's face at his words. "I'm glad, Don," said she. "You've got honor in you. But in no case could I see you marry that girl." He turned upon her in sudden astonishment. "Isn't she as good as we are? Isn't her family--don't you know the Oglesbys of Columbus--who they are and what they stand for--where they came from? Can we say as much?" "They are better than we can claim to be, Don, yes," said she, ignoring his brutal frankness. "I know her, yes. I knew her years ago--the ward of Judge Henderson. Sometimes she has been here and kept his household for him--some day she'll live with Judge Henderson even if she marries. He's very fond of her. But as to your marrying Anne Oglesby, you must not think of it." "What on earth!" he began. "What have you against her?" "It is enough that I feel as I do about any girl who has been here and who knows about--about the way--the way I've lived. Will she know who I am when she knows who _you_ are--and what you are not? Has she identified us two--have you really been fair with her?" Now the color began to rise in her paled cheeks.