It was her nature, and her vocation was conducive to such things: I have never told this story to another, and to-night, when I tell you, it is because I want to save you-for your sake, for your parents' sake--for your sweetheart's sake!" Edward was stunned. He could not speak; he simply stared at the speaker, who wiped his eyes. After a moment of silence he said, "My God, what will I do?" "Young man, what would you have done had you not met that woman?" "I would have gone West," he answered. "Well--go West now. Go, before she comes back and has you under her influence. Go, and you will feel all the better in time." "But it would be dishonorable to go in this way, with her money," said Edward. "Ah! would it not be much more dishonorable to use her money to bring unhappiness to her and to yourself? And you can repay that money later--in fact, you will repay her much sooner if you go away than if you stay and go on the stage." In his heart Edward felt that his adviser was right, and he thought he could bear the voice of Marie Louise saying, "He is right." "I'll follow your advice," said Edward, shaking the old man's hand tenderly. "God bless you, my boy! I feel that I have done a good act in my late days of life, and I know that you will thank the day you met me when later you think of this. Where will you go?" "I don't know," answered Edward; trying to smile. "I have a friend out in Montana who owns a big ranch. He is an old classmate of mine and I often go and spend the summer months with him. I will write a letter which you will take to him. He will give you something to do; it may not be very fine work, but I will guarantee that it will be healthy and conducive to happiness. Do you like horses?" "Do I?" spoke up Edward, brightening considerably; "I should say I do." "Good! Meet me here to-night at eight o'clock," and the old man walked out. Edward lingered at the club for a short time, then went to his boarding-house, where he found his friend Ben waiting for him. "Ben, I am going to leave the city," he said, after sitting down. "Going to New York, I suppose," answered the Russian, smiling, and thinking that Edward had decided to follow Nellie. "No, sir, I am going West. I have decided to quit the idea of going on the stage." "What! Going West? What's the matter; Ed, are you crazy?" "No, I don't think I am crazy, but I may have been," and then he explained the whole thing to his astonished friend, who finally agreed with him, but was sorry to part with Edward, and told him so. "Never mind, old boy, we will meet again, when we have settled in life," said Edward, beginning to arrange his trunk for his early departure. After supper he and the Russian walked to the Actors' Club, where the old man was waiting, with a letter addressed to Mr. Frank Goodnow, Grass Village, Montana.