She would not say, only asked him, anxiously: "Was Violet repentant?" "She was sorry she had been found out, and very angry with Gerald Huntington for betraying the secret. I do not believe she has reached the verge of repentance just yet." "Poor Violet!" the girl said, with infinite compassion. "You will not tell anyone about it, Ronald?" "No, darling, I promised her I would not. Many people have secrets hidden in their lives. This will be one in Violet's, and Gerald Huntington's near kinship to you, will be one in yours. I did not even tell Walter her story. I gave her the privilege of saying she had jilted me. You will not mind taking a man who has been jilted, will you, Lina?" She looked at the handsome, happy face, with the eager light of hope shining in the blue-gray eyes, and her lips quivered. Years had passed since she had seen the light of happiness shining on Ronald Valchester's face. "Ronald, I must not take you now," she said, "I am not the Lina you loved years ago. I have lost my beauty." "You will always be beautiful to me," he answered, loyally. "Lina, my love was no weak, shallow passion for a fair face such as Walter Earle cherished for you. It was not altogether your beauty that won me first. There was about you a singular unconscious fascination--a luring charm--sweet and subtle as the fragrance of a flower, that won me even against my will. That nameless charm lingers about you still, though your wondrous fairness has faded like a flower. You remember-- "'You may break--you may shatter The vase if you will, But the scent of the roses Will cling round it still.' So, although you have lost your beauty, Lina, the real, undefinable charm that held me, holds me still." Lina looked at him with dewy eyes. His whole, handsome, eager face was lighted with the tenderness of his heart. He took her small hands and held them fondly in his own. "Lina, we were made for each other," he pleaded; "we both love poetry, music, and everything beautiful. Fate has been hard and unkind to us, but she has relented at last. You are going to be my wife." Lina could not resist his pleading, and the gentle arm that stole around her. She hid her face on his breast and wept the happiest tears that ever rained from a happy woman's eyes. She had loved Ronald so long and so well, and she was going to be his wife at last. * * * * * Only one month later they were happily married amid the rejoicings of all the neighborhood. General and Mrs. Valchester were present and seemed very happy in the happiness of their idolized son. Mr. Earle was also present, but Walter and Violet sent regrets. Their father said that they were very busy making arrangements for a long projected tour abroad. Mrs. Meredith's wedding-gift to her husband's niece was a mysterious box swathed around with silver paper. Ronald was quite mystified to hear her say, gratefully, when she received it: