Quick, Graydon, quick!'' she gasped.

He sprang to the ground, and a second later she was an unconscious burden in his arms.

He laid her gently on a mossy bank under an oak; then, with a face fairly livid with passion, he drew a small revolver from his hip-pocket, stepped back to the horse that now stood trembling and exhausted in the road, and shot him dead.

He now saw that they had been observed at a neighboring farmhouse, and that people were running toward them. Gathering Madge again in his arms, he bore her toward the dwelling, in which effort he was soon aided by a stout countryman.

The farmer's wife was all solicitude, and to her and her daughter's ministrations Madge was left, while Graydon waited, with intense anxiety, in the porch, explaining what had occurred, with a manner much distraught, in answer to many questions.

"The cursed brute is done for now,' he concluded.

Madge's faint proved obstinate, and at last Graydon began to urge the farmer to go for a physician.

The daughter at last appeared with the glad tidings that the young girl was "coming to nicely."

Graydon breathed a fervent "Thank God!"' and sunk weak and limp into a seat on the porch. The farmer brought him a glass of cool milk from the cellar, and then Graydon sent in word that he would like to see the lady as soon as possible.

When he entered the "spare room" of the farmhouse Madge, with a smile that was like a ray of

sunshine, extended her hand from the lounge on which she was reclining, and said :

"You didn't fail me, Graydon. I couldn't have kept up a moment longer. I should have fainted before had I not heard your voice. How good God has been !"

He held her hand in both his own, his mouth twitched nervously, but his emotion was too strong for speech.

44

'Don't feel so badly, Graydon," she resumed, and her voice was gentleness itself; "I am not hurt, nor are you to blame."

"I am to blame," he said, hoarsely. "I gave you that brute, but he's dead. I shot him instantly. O Madge, if-if- I feel that I would have shot myself."

Graydon, please be more calm," she faltered, "There, see, you are

tears coming into her eyes.

making me cry.
bear to see a man-so, moved.

look

I can't bear to see you-I can't
Please now, you
I'm not strong, but

so pale that I am frightened.
shall get better at once if I see you yourself."'

Forgive me, Madge, but it seems as if I had suffered the pangs of death ten times over-there, I won't speak about it till we both have recovered from the shock. Dear, brave little girl; how can I thank you enough for keeping up till I could reach you!"

She began to laugh a little too nervously to be natural. Her heart was glad over her escape, and in a gladder tumult at his words and manner. He was no shadow of a man, nor did ice-water flow in

his veins.

His feeling had been so strong that it

had almost broken her self-control.

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"Some day," she exulted, some day God will

turn his fraternal affection into the wine of love."

"I'm so nervous, she said, "that I must either laugh or cry. What a plight we are in! How shall we go forward or backward?".

"We shall not do either very soon.

Mrs. Hob

son is making you a cup of tea, and then you must rest thoroughly, and sleep, if possible.'

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What will you do?"

Oh, I'll soothe my nerves with a cigar, and berate myself on the porch! When you are thoroughly rested I'll have Mr. Hobson drive us on to the nearest station. We are in no plight whatever, if you received no harm."

"I haven't.

46

66

Promise me one thing."

'Anything—everything."

I was

Do no berating. I'm sorry you killed the horse; but he did act vilely, and I suppose you had to let off your anger in some way. angry myself at first-he was so stupid. But when I found I couldn't hold him at all I thought I must die- Oh, how it all comes back to me! What thoughts I had, and how sweet life became! Oh, oh-" and she began sobbing like a child.

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Madge, please I can't endure this, indeed I can't."

But her overwrought nerves were not easily controlled, and he knelt beside her, speaking soothingly and pleadingly. "Dear Madge, dear sister Madge.

Oh, I wish Mary was here!" and he kissed her again and again.

"Graydon," she gasped, "stop! There-I'm better;" and she did seem to recover almost instantly.

Law bless you, sir," said Mrs. Hobson, who had entered with the tea, "your sister'll be all right in an hour or so."

Graydon sprung to his feet, and there was a strong dash of color in his face. As for the hitherto pallid Madge, her visage was like a peony, and she was preternaturally quiet.

"Try to sleep, Madge," said Graydon, from the doorway," and I won't worry or take on' a bit;" and he disappeared.

There was no sleep for her, and yet she felt herself wonderfully restored. Was it the potency of Mrs. Hobson's tea? or that which he had placed upon her lips?

CHAPTER XXXVII.

"YOU ARE VERY BLIND."

S a general rule Graydon was not conscious of

nerves, and had received the fact of their existence largely on faith. But to-day they asserted themselves in a manner which excited his surprise and some rather curious speculation. He found his heart beating in a way difficult to account for on a physiological basis, his pulses fluttering, and his thoughts in a luminous haze, wherein nothing was very distinct except Madge's flushing face, startled eyes, looking a protest through their tears. It was not so much an indignant protest as it was a frightened one, he half imagined. And why was he so confused and disturbed that, instead of sitting quietly down in the porch, as he had intended, he was impelled to walk restlessly to a neighboring grove! For one so intensely fraternal he felt he was continuing to "take on" in a very unnecessary style.

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"Why

Confound that woman!" he muttered. did she have to come in just then, and why should I blush like a school-girl because she caught me kissing one that I regard as a sister? And why did