He staggered to his feet, staring at her blankly. “But you said that you forgave me, dear Eva!” Eva stood up, facing him, with pity and sympathy in her eyes. “I do forgive you freely, Reggie, dear, and I want you always for my friend. But I am going to free my mind and make a confession. I never really loved you as a girl should love the man she is to marry. My heart was desolated by a hopeless love for one I could never wed, and I turned to you for solace. My family wished it, society expected it, you urged it, and I yielded--and repented the moment after! I am grateful for my freedom. I thank Heaven that it came in time. Forgive my frankness, but it is best!” She dropped back into her seat and hid her face on Ada’s shoulder. Doctor Ludington started forward impetuously, but restrained himself. Where was the use? He realized with rapture that she loved him still, but he knew she would never yield her prejudice, her blind following of what seemed her duty to the dead. But the unbidden guest, emboldened by feeling that she had done something to redeem herself just now, came quickly forward to Eva’s side, saying curiously: “Maybe tain’t none o’ my business, Eva, chile, but I want to know what’s your reasons for not marrying Doctor Ludington, who seems to be a pretty likely man! Seems to me it’s time for the two famblies to stop hating each other for nonsense past an’ gone!” Eva lifted her white, tearful face wistfully, answering with a strong shudder: “It--it is not simply the old prejudice, Cousin Tabby, but my Cousin Terry’s blood, flowing like a crimson river between our hearts!” “Oh, it’s that way?” and a strange gleam came into the old woman’s eyes as she added: “Well, little Eva, s’posen the man he accidentally killed hadn’t a-been your cousin a-tall, what then? Could you marry him then?” Eva, with a furtive glance at the young doctor, faltered “Yes.” Miss Tabby’s eyes beamed with triumphant joy. She beckoned the doctor to her side, exclaiming: “Good news for you, doctor! She’s yours! Terry Groves warn’t never no kin to Eva!” Every one cried out in wonder, and Patty fumed in impotent rage, but the spinster went on joyfully: “After gran’ther’s death, when the twins an’ me went over his papers and the ones o’ their father’s, that they brung with ’em from Kansas, we found out something they never dreamed, nor I don’t think gran’ther ever suspected, either, by not reading over the papers in the little black trunk. Well, Terry Groves was John Groves’ adopted son. His mother and father both died of the fever, and the Groveses took the leettle baby to raise for their own. Terry O’Kelly was his real name. He had Irish blood--’twas that made him so quick an’ fiery. Now, Eva!” She had put the girl’s hand into Doctor Ludington’s. She looked up at him, whispering: “Is it too late? Do you love Ada?”