“Meanwhile I hope you see quite as clearly, that the thorns have all been stripped off and set thickly along my path?”

Her smiling eyes met his steadily, and the brave heart showed no quailing.

“If I imagine that complimentary inference is written between the lines, is it not pardonable to welcome the assurance that you will sometimes be sharply pricked into remembrance of your absent friend?”

At this moment, with clanging bells and thundering wheels the train swept in, and Leo rose to exchange last greetings with numerous friends Judge Dent and Miss Patty accompanied her as far as New York, and when the car had been coupled at the end of the long line, and all was in readiness, Mr. Dunbar took his companion’s hand.

“When we parted last, I was angry and hasty.  Now I desire to make one farewell request.  You ask a release from our engagement.  I grant it.  I hold you perfectly free; but I will consider myself bound, pledged to you until the expiration of one year.  Nothing you can say shall alter my determination; but twelve months hence, if you can trust your happiness to my hands, send me this message:  ’I wear your ring.’  Once more I offer you my letter of confession.  Will you receive it now; will you look into the heart which I have bared for your scrutiny?”

“No.  I voluntarily forfeited that right, when I asked my freedom.  If your letter contains aught that would change my high regard, my confidence, my affectionate interest in your happiness, I am doubly anxious to avoid acquaintance with its contents.  You have long held the first place in my esteem, why seek to impair my valuation of your character?  Let us be friends, now and forever.”

“Remember you broke your fetters; I hug mine—­a year longer.  Forget me if you will; but Leo, when your heart refuses to be strangled, suffer its cry to reach me.  Whatever the future may decree, you shall always be my noble ideal of exalted womanhood, my own proud, sensitive, unselfish Leo; and from the depth of my heart I wish you a pleasant tour, and a safe and speedy return.”

A premonitory thrill shook the ear, and dropping the fingers that lay cold as marble in his, Mr. Dunbar swung himself to the station platform.  The train moved off, but he knew that it would return in switching, and so he stood hat in hand.

As it slowly glided back, he stepped close to the open window, and Leo’s last look at the man she had loved so long and well, showed him with the sun shining on his superb form, and coldly locked face.  He saw her hazel eyes dim in their mist of unshed tears, and the sweet, blanched lips trembling from the spasm that held her heart.  She leaned down, laid her hand on his shoulder.

“Dear Lennox, open your hand carefully; there—­hold it close.  Good-bye.”

Into his palm she dropped something; their faces almost touched, eyes met, heart looked into heart; then Leo smiled and drew back, lowering her veil, and as the cars shivered, lurched, moved on, Mr. Dunbar put on his hat and unclosed his fingers.