past!  She would willingly give me her daughter, for did she not know how deep, how lasting, how deathless was my affection?  I had Gertrude’s whole heart, and I was too generous to trifle with her tender love!  Edna, darling!  I will not tell you all she said—­you would blush for your sisterhood.  But my vengeance was complete when I declined the honor she was so eager to force upon me; when I overwhelmed her with my scorn, and told her that there was only one woman whom I respected or trusted; only one woman upon the broad earth whom I loved; only one woman who could ever be my wife, and her name was—­Edna Earl!”

His voice died away, and all was still as the dead in their grassy graves.

The orphan’s face was concealed, and after a moment St. Elmo Murray opened his arms, and said in that low winning tone which so many women had found it impossible to resist:  “Come to me now, my pure, noble Edna.  You whom I love, as only such a man as I have shown myself to be can love.”

“No, Mr. Murray; Gertrude stands between us.”

“Gertrude!  Do not make me swear here, in your presence—­do not madden me by repeating her name!  I tell you she is a silly child, who cares no more for me than her mother did before her.  Nothing shall stand between us.  I love you; the God above us is my witness that I love you as I never loved any human being, and I will not—­I swear I will not live without you!  You are mine, and all the legions in hell shall not part us!”

He stooped, snatched her from the chair as if she had been an infant, and folded her in his strong arms.

“Mr. Murray, I know she loves you.  My poor little trusting friend!  You trifled with her warm heart, as you hope to trifle with mine; but I know you; you have shown me how utterly heartless, remorseless, unprincipled you are.  You had no right to punish Gertrude for her mother’s sins; and if you had one spark of honor in your nature, you would marry her, and try to atone for the injury you have already done.”

“By pretending to give her a heart which belongs entirely to you?  If I wished to deceive you now, think you I would have told all that hideous past, which you can not abhor one half as much as I do?”

“Your heart is not mine!  It belongs to sin, or you could not have so maliciously deceived poor Gertrude.  You love nothing but your ignoble revenge and the gratification of your self-love!  You—­”

“Take care, do not rouse me.  Be reasonable, little darling.  You doubt my love?  Well, I ought not to wonder at your scepticism after all you have heard.  But you can feel how my heart throbs against your cheek, and if you will look into my eyes, you will be convinced that I am fearfully in earnest, when I beg you to be my wife to-morrow—­to-day—­now! if you will only let me send for a minister or a magistrate!  You are—­”

“You asked Annie to be your wife, and—­”

“Hush! hush!  Look at me.  Edna, raise your head and look at me.”