"We loved her so," muttered Mellen; "she was twined round that girl's heart as she enthralled mine; she has broken both."
"What are you saying, Grant?"
"Nothing, dear; I only pitied you and myself for loving her so much."
"I will always love her," cried Elsie; "you never shall change me; nothing shall do that. She is innocent; I believe it; I would say so before the whole world."
CHAPTER LXIX.
ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS.
Mellen was seized with a sudden fear.
"Elsie," he said, "if anything should happen to me; if I should die——"
She caught his hands and began to tremble.