“Events which I cannot fully describe have opened my eyes and revealed to me the truth. I loved Elsie and still love her as a very dear friend, and one of the sweetest girls alive, but I do not love her and never did love her as one should love the girl he means to make his wife.”
Bart’s lips parted, but no sound escaped them. He stared at Frank as if turned to stone.
“But I have learned,” Merry continued, “that I love another with all my heart, and that knowledge has brought me great happiness, for my love is returned, and we are engaged to be married some time, though the day is not set yet. Of course, you know without being told that the other of whom I speak is Inza Burrage.”
Bart sprang up.
“Merriwell,” he gasped, “you—you really mean that you are engaged—to Inza?”
“Yes, that is just what I mean. So you see, my dear boy, that you have been worrying over a trouble that does not exist, and the field is open and clear for you to win Elsie.”
There was a ringing as of many bells in Bart’s ears, and the room seemed to whirl round him.
Then he sat down quickly, all the strength having gone out of his legs. But the happiness of the shock made him long to shout, though his lips uttered no sound.
CHAPTER IV.
A DESPERATE ENEMY.
“Ginger up, there, Robinson! You’re worse than a dead man!”