“Ah, if I had but listened to you when you first wished to tell me your story, my darling, it would have saved us much of the sorrow that we have since known,” her husband remarked regretfully. “Perhaps and yet——” Salome began thoughtfully. “Yet what, my Peace?” “I believe we should not have been so content in each other’s love; we might have had a feeling—a suspicion that each was thinking more of the union of the fortunes than the union of hearts, if we had met as was planned in the first place. I believe that I love you better for all the trial and sorrow.” CHAPTER XLIV. SALOME CONTINUES HER STORY. “All this has been a test, at any rate,” Salome continued, after a few moments of thoughtful silence. “We are both sure that no unworthy motive has influenced us. We know that we preferred each other to wealth. I fled from my home rather than be driven into a marriage with one whom I was not sure I could love, while you insisted upon marrying me without regard to the fortune which you believed you were forfeiting.” “Yes, it has been a test, as you say. Still I cannot be reconciled to our long separation. Oh, my darling, I have been very desolate without you! Just think of all the precious time that we have lost!” Dr. Winthrop said, with a quiver of pain in his tones. “It has not been wholly lost, dear,” Salome returned, lifting her tender face upon which there glowed a holy light, “for I believe we have both tried to do some good in the world; out of our own sorrow, we have tried to be helpful to others. True we have suffered,” and she shivered slightly; “but I am sure we shall both appreciate the joy of the future far more on account of it. I know,” and her voice grew gravely sweet, “that I have helped to smooth and cheer the last of life for one, who, for many years, had led a very bitter and sorrowful existence; besides, I trust that I have won no mean victory over my own heart during my experiences here in Paris.” Dr. Winthrop bent and touched her brow almost reverently with his lips. “Dear heart, I understand you,” he said with emotion. “You have rewarded evil with good by saving the lives of those who have injured you; you have been an angel, my Salome!” “No, True, I did not mean that,” she replied, smiling faintly and flushing. “I am far from being angelic, I assure you. But I confess there was much of bitterness in my heart; I am afraid that I was almost revengeful. Even when you asked me to go to the chateau, I had quite a struggle with myself before I could conquer; but now while I feel that I may have been instrumental in doing some good, I know that I have reaped a hundredfold in the conquest over self.”