'"Do not say so, Jerry Vane."
'I thought to myself, bitterly (excuse me, Chute), could not this confounded fellow Beverley die without bothering her with all his gloomy messages and mementoes?
'"If you do not marry me, I shall die an old bachelor. Let not the one love of my life be utterly hopeless—you, my first and last!"
'"Poor Jerry, what can I say?" she exclaimed, interlacing her white, slender fingers.
'"That you will love me."
'"In time, perhaps—I will try—but cease to urge me now."
'"Bless you for those words, Ida."
'"I am glad to make you happy, Jerry," said she, with a bright smile in her beautiful eyes.
'"You do indeed cause my heart to swell with happiness—but—but why do you shudder?" I exclaimed.
'"Did I shudder?" she asked, growing very pale, and withdrawing her hand from mine. "Oh, let us cease this subject, Jerry, and—and excuse me leaving you."