A fortune in wedding gifts was arranged on tables in her boudoir. They looked them over, admiring, while Ada said: “How fortunate you are, my dear little girl!” “Fortunate!” echoed Eva, but there was a world of tragic meaning in her tone. She took up a white satin case and opened it. The electric light flashed on a heart pendant, set with rubies, that glowed weirdly like blood. “I cannot keep from looking at this over and over,” she said. “It fascinates me. It seems symbolical. A bleeding heart! Why did Doctor Ludington send it to me?” “To remind you, perhaps,” Ada answered gently. “It was cruel--as if I ever could forget!” and her bosom shook with a long sigh as she put it from her hands again. She continued wildly: “Oh, Ada, do you keep thinking of that other night as I do? Is it Reggie who will really be my bridegroom and not Rupert? Somehow I cannot realize it, now that it comes so terribly near. My brain is all in a whirl, my thoughts are confused; I am not happy and expectant, as on that other bridal eve. My heart feels heavy as lead in my breast! Do you--do you think anything can happen to prevent it this time?” “What could happen, my darling? You are nervous and fanciful. There is nothing going to happen to mar your happiness this time. Come, let us look out at the beautiful moonlight,” drawing her to the window; “I have looked at jewels, and silverware, and bric-à-brac, and wedding gowns until my eyes ache. Let me refresh them with a bit of nature.” It was a beautiful night, late in January, clear, cold, and frosty, the moon and myriad stars shining down from a cloudless sky. Below on the magnificent avenue the electric lights made it bright as day. “What a beautiful night! You will have moonlight nights on the sea, Eva, and----” Ada broke off the sentence abruptly, beginning another one: “Why, there’s a carriage stopping in front of the house. Who can be calling to-night? I thought we should be alone.” “It is Reggie. Don’t you see him getting out of the carriage and coming in? Why, he told me he would be at the bachelor party to-night. I--I don’t think I want to see even him to-night. We shall be together so much afterward!” Eva faltered, with a catch in her breath like a stifled sob. She sank down in a chair wearily, hopelessly, and hid her face in her little nervous hands. “Don’t fret, dear. We will send down word that you have retired, and beg to be excused,” soothed Ada, wondering how Eva could be so indifferent to such a peerless bridegroom. “Ah, if it were only me! If I only had the chance, how I would fly down to his dear arms!” she thought, with silent pain. They sat silent, waiting for the summons; but minutes slipped away and it did not come. “He has evidently not asked for you. Perhaps he only called for a word with his stepmother, and is going again in a minute. I will watch to see,” exclaimed Ada, with her face glued to the window pane.