"It is a withered rose," she said softly, holding it out in the palm of her hand. "And this--" she opened the clipping--"the notice of the marriage in San Francisco of Anne Holt to James Leigh Wallace, on April 1, 1869." She looked up in wonder. "See, here at the bottom of the clipping is written one word in Aunt Susan's handwriting--'jilted!'" Craige was the first to speak. "It is not surprising that Miss Susan Baird hated young Leigh Wallace," he remarked quietly. "She was not the type of woman to forgive an injury or forget an insult." CHAPTER XVI A STARTLING ENCOUNTER Ted Rodgers ran down the three steps leading to the _porte-coch�re_ of "Hideaway," and opened the door of his car. "Wouldn't you like to drive?" he asked, turning to Kitty standing in the doorway with Charles Craige. Kitty's hesitation was brief. "Indeed I would!" she exclaimed. "I feel all keyed up--" Craige smiled indulgently. "Get as much pleasure as you can," he advised. "You deserve the good things of life, Kitty. Now, put your aunt's tragic death out of your mind--for to-night, at least," observing her sober expression. "I will see you to-morrow and we will make a further search among your aunt's belongings for the papers wanted so mysteriously. Rodgers, take good care of her," and he waved his hand in farewell as Kitty started the car down the driveway. Craige's picturesque cottage, "Hideaway," concealed from its neighbors by tall box hedges, was located on a street near Chevy Chase Circle, and, as their car made the turn around it, Rodgers bent closer to Kitty. "Let's run through Rock Creek Park," he coaxed. "It isn't very much further, and--" his voice grew very tender. "I want so to talk to you all by yourself." Kitty wavered a moment in doubt. She had promised Mandy to return within the hour--but she had already stayed more than an hour at her godfather's home. Probably Mandy had long since gone to bed. Rodgers' hand on her's settled her hesitation as, with tender clasp, he turned the steering wheel toward the road leading into the park. The heavy wind of the early evening had died down and as they sped down the moonlit road Kitty's cup of happiness seemed filled to the brim. They drove in silence--the silence of perfect companionship and understanding--each content with the other's presence and their thought of one another. "Stop here a moment; the view over the Park is wonderful." Rodgers leaned forward and pushed up the windshield to the farthest limit. "You can see better now." But when Kitty slowed down at the side of the road she found him regarding her and not the moonlight on the rolling hills and valley before them. "You meant it, Kitty; you _do_ care for me?" he asked wistfully. "Really care?" Kitty's soft laugh held happiness behind it. "I care so much--" her voice dropped to a mere whisper and he had to lean still closer to catch what she said. "My love is yours, always--always."