“Love her—­love any other than you, my beautiful, peerless one?  Do not torture me with such a supposition.  I care nothing for Evelyn Howard; I do not know her; I do not care to know her; nor is she in the least dependent upon me for happiness.  She has vast wealth, and can command whatever fate she chooses.”

“But wealth cannot buy happiness,” she sadly replied, “and our course is clear.  I can see you no more till you have met your betrothed and received your dismissal—­or,”—­and her clear cheek paled again—­“made up your mind to fulfill your promise to her.  Farewell!  I thank you for your unwise devotion to me, but I can see you no more.”

“Oh, Lina, do not doom me to this total separation.  Why it seems an eternity.  Where and when can I see you again?  Why didn’t I go to that girl when she was here?  Fool, coward that I was!  And now I cannot leave New York.  Grant me some respite, my love—­I cannot live without you!”

But much as she sympathized with him she was firm; and when Weldon Gardner left the house, with despair tugging at his heart, the only ray of sunshine that pierced the gloom was the conviction that she did love him—­that should anything occur to separate them forever, her heart would plead strongly for him, and her love would strive with his to overcome the barrier.

* * * * *

Months went by, and still Evelyn Howard eluded Weldon Gardner’s pursuit.  Bitterly was he punished for his culpable neglect of her.  In vain he wrote letters urging her to come to New York.  She was traveling with friends and declined to change her course.  He followed her to London, to Paris.  In vain!  She was ever just before him on his journey:  always missing, never meeting him.  Then he wrote to Lina Dent, beseeching her to relent, since he had done all in his power to carry out her wishes.  She did not reply.  Then in sullen despair he gave up the pursuit.  He carefully avoided going out except to see patients, declined all invitations, and took solitary refuge in the stern exactions of duty.

As the year drew to a close he noticed in the list of arrivals from Europe, Miss Evelyn Howard and her party; and among the personals he saw that the beautiful Miss Howard would appear at Governor B’s reception on the next evening.  He had received cards to this party, and now, with the fierce desire to end his torture reawakened, he prepared to accept the invitation.  As he entered the brilliant rooms his eye fell upon the form and face of Lina Dent, attired in an exquisite costume, and looking far more radiant than in his wildest dreams he had ever pictured her.

Feasting upon her loveliness, with eyes hungry in their wistfulness, he was about to approach her when she suddenly looked toward him and their eyes met.  He caught the quick flash of feeling; he knew that he was still beloved!  But even as he drank in the delicious confirmation of his hopes, she passed him without recognition, and he knew that she would not break her vow—­that she would not meet him till he had fulfilled her conditions.  Too miserable to seek Miss Howard in the throng, the young physician pleaded an urgent call to a patient, and left his host almost before he had fairly entered upon the festivities.