Mrs. Bowers merely laughed in reply, as if he had uttered the most harmless jest. She was thoroughly wicked and heartless, and cared not a jot for the miseries of the whole world. "Well, the sooner the better," went on Vinton, heartlessly. "I believe I'll go and have it out with her now." He arose as heartlessly and indifferently as if he were going about a mission of happiness instead of being about to strike the cold steel of despair into the young heart that trusted him so fondly. Jennie was sitting by a window in the parlor looking out at the great, blinding flakes of snow that whirled through the air and covered the ground with a pure white carpet. She looked pale, but very pretty in a black dress with scarlet trimmings, and a scarlet shawl was draped about her shoulders, partly concealing her form. As Mr. Vinton entered the room her dark eyes turned from the window and rested on him with a very fond and loving smile. "You've come at last," she said, in a tone of joy and relief. "Where have you been all this long week?" "In town," he answered, laconically, as he dropped into a chair near her. A look of disappointment came into her eyes. She rose and went to his side, winding her arms about his neck, and pressing her lips on his brow. "I've missed you so much," she said, lovingly. "I sha'n't let you leave me so long again." "I shall not ask your leave!" he answered, sharply, and muttering an oath between his teeth as he rudely pushed her off. The movement was so sudden that she nearly fell. It was only by catching the back of a convenient chair that she steadied herself. She turned a white, frightened face toward him. "What's the matter?" she said. "Are you angry with me, Leon?" "I'm sick of your baby fondness," he answered brutally. "Have done with it." Jennie fell back into her chair as if shot, and looked at him with reproachful eyes. "You're angry with me," she said, plaintively; "and I had something to tell you--something very particular." "Tell it, then," he answered, with a frown as black as night on his handsome face. The trembling young creature before him remained silent for a few minutes, so utterly confounded was she by the unaccountable change in her husband. His manner had always been the perfection of gentlemanly refinement before. This sudden change to coarse brutality amazed and frightened her. When she spoke her voice was low and broken, and her eyes rested on the carpet. "I waited to tell you, Leon," she said, with a scarlet blush, "that--that we will have to make some change soon. You'll be obliged to tell Mrs. Bowers that we are married, or take me to some other place. If you don't she'll find out our secret pretty soon. We are compelled to make a change!" "I have been thinking so myself," he answered, coolly. "You have," she said, with an accent of gladness. "Then what do you think we had better do?" "I think you had better go home to your mother," he answered, brutally.