"Madam," said Broadhead, sternly, "you shall hear the truth. He shot himself on the top of the hill the day of the battle with this revolver," laying the weapon on the table. "Here is his sword and his watch and a lock of his hair. I suppose you don't care for them." "I care for everything that belonged to him more than Heaven itself." "You are free now," said Broadhead; "you can marry your--your--friend." "Never! He has driven me away, cast me off, and I hate him! I hated him from the very moment--I shall be free, anyway. He said nothing before he died?" "Nothing." "And this is all you can tell me?" "All." "Will you leave me now?" "What? Alone in this empty house?" "It's my house, isn't it? I am still Mrs. Kirke, am I not?" "Yes, of course, but--I----" "Will you go, please? You have discharged your errand. You have told me the dreadful truth. For God's sake, leave me!" "May I not do something----" "Nothing,--nothing. You may come back to-morrow morning and advise what to do. I am alone now, you see." Broadhead stood uncertainly before her. "Go, go!" she pleaded. "Don't you see that I wish to be alone for a little? You have been very good to me. I thank you." She hesitatingly put out her hand to him. "Won't you shake hands with me?" she pleaded. "I did very wrong. I fell very low. But I am very sorry." Upon an impulse for which he rejoiced ever after, Broadhead clasped the thin, tiny hand in his own, held it a moment, bent low over it, and, with old-fashioned gallantry, kissed it,--that soiled, wasted hand! "I forgive you," he said, and the voice of the dead seemed to speak to the woman through his lips. He turned and left her alone,--alone in the darkness, alone with her memories, alone with her sorrow, alone with her repentance, alone with the weapon. She lifted the heavy revolver with trembling hand. There was a single cartridge left in the chamber. The next morning, in great anxiety, Broadhead came back to the house. He found the woman sitting quite white and still where he had left her, and the revolver was empty! THE CAPTAIN OF H. B. M. SHIP DIAMOND ROCK THE TALE OF A STRANGE SHIP OFF MARTINIQUE "Come one, come all! this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as I." SCOTT I.--THE CONDITION "I am a passed midshipman now, Dorothy dear, and I'm certain to get my swab----" "Swab, Mr. Maurice?" interrupted the young lady, archly. "Yes, my epaulet--a lieutenant's commission--this year; you know what I mean, Miss Venour. And, oh, I do love you so! With my pay and what father will allow me and what your grandfather will allow you we can get along,--that is, if you love me well enough to try it."