"Yes, I know I have seemed indifferent and resentful for the past year. I thought you would come back to your old self by and by. In my poor proud soul I thought I was punishing you. How little, dear, I dreamed of this! The thought of really losing you never once entered my heart. It was unthinkable. I do not believe it yet. Such love as ours, such tenderness and devotion as you gave to me once, the delirium of love's joy that found itself in my motherhood and wrought itself in the forms of our babies--no, Frank, it cannot die, unless God dies! And I shall not lose you at last, unless God forgets me, and He will not." Her face, even through her tears, was illumined by an assurance so strong, so prophetic, the man was startled. "I need not tell you, Ruth, that I desire your happiness. And, strange as it may seem to you, Miss Ransom regards you with tenderness." The dark eyes flashed a gleam of lightning from their depths. "Thanks. I can live without her maudlin pity." "You misjudge her," he cried, raising his hand. "Perhaps; but I'll ask you, Frank, not to dishonour me, or this little home you were once good enough to give to me, by mentioning that woman's name within its doors again." The sensitive mouth closed with an emphasis he could not mistake. "But I am the bearer from her to-day of a token of her regard. She has determined to turn over to you as quickly as possible a half-million dollars of her remaining fortune." Ruth sprang to her feet, her face scarlet, her breast heaving, her lithe figure erect and trembling. "And you dare bring this message to me? This offer to sell my husband and my love!" "Come, come, Ruth, a woman has no need to sacrifice a great fortune in New York for a husband. They are cheaper than that." "They do seem cheap," she answered, bitterly. "You should have common sense. The spirit of sacrifice in this great gift to you and the children is too deep and honest to be met with a sneer. It is my desire and hers that you shall be forever beyond want." Ruth's face softened and a tender smile lit it once more. "Frank, my darling, you cannot think me so base? You know there is not a drop of mean blood in me. Can gold pay for my heart's desire? The price for my beloved? Pile the earth with diamonds to the stars, I'd hold it trash for the touch of your hand!" The man moved nervously. "You must have some sense, Ruth. Surely, I'm not worth all this if I leave you so. You must take this money." She moved closer to him and held up her delicate hands, with the sunlight gleaming through the red blood of her tapering fingers. "You see these hands? They have only known the gentle tasks of love. Well, I'll scrub, sew and wash the clothes of working-men before one dollar of her gold shall stain them!" "You cannot be so foolish," he protested, impatiently. "Besides, she has given me this money to give to you."