He turned away with a harsh laugh, and went his way through the gloomy shadows of the winter night, like a thing of evil omen. And in all that vast city of Chicago where crime stalks abroad under the cover of darkness, there was not a soul more lost to goodness than that of this man. CHAPTER LI. STARTLING NEWS. "Say an encouraging word to the weary, They to whom life seems all darksome and dreary; One kindly sentence the sad heart will lighten, One smile of love the existence will brighten. "Say an encouraging word to the erring; Sin-blasted, hunted down, crushed, and despairing; Even when vice his worst form is revealing, One word in season may wake better feeling." FRANCIS S. SMITH. Cameron Clemens had indeed gazed with longing eyes after the carriage that bore Miss Carroll away from his sight. The old love, stifled so long by hopeless pain and absence, had leaped to life again full-grown within his fond heart. And although Cissy had been painfully shy, seldom speaking to him, and then only in her role of a new acquaintance, he had read in her glance that she did not despise him now. Something had come over her that looked almost like forgiveness of his fault. He began to have a little hope of winning her after all. "I will try my fate once more, if she is as gentle when we meet again as she was to-night," he resolved, joyously. He could not sleep that night for thinking of Cissy's looks and words, and wondering if he should see her to-morrow when he called on Geraldine. "I shall ask for her also, and then she can have no excuse for not seeing me," he resolved, firmly. The next afternoon, at the earliest permissible hour, he presented himself at the door of Mrs. Fitzgerald's magnificent house, and sent in his cards for the two young ladies. He was ushered into a dainty reception-room, fitted in blue, and waited with what patience he could for their appearance. Presently the heavy portieres were swept aside by a plump, dimpled white hand, and Miss Carroll entered the room alone. Cameron Clemens sprang to meet her, thinking that she had never looked more lovely in her becoming house gown of delicate blue, with lace and ribbons fluttering about it. He offered his hand, and as she placed hers in it he saw a delicate pinkness about her eyelids that betrayed recent tears. Pointing to a seat, she exclaimed: "Isn't it surprising? Or--have you not heard?" "I have heard nothing, Miss Carroll. Pray enlighten me." "It is about Geraldine, you know." "You do not mean that she is ill?" "Oh, no, no--not ill. You remember how well she was last night. Well, after we came home Geraldine eloped," and the last word was almost a sob, for Cissy was terribly agitated. A terrible fear came to him, and he faltered: "Not with Standish?" Cissy flashed her adorer a reproachful glance, exclaiming: