"And you throw it aside as a worthless rag."
"No," she answered smiling. "It shall be mine always—good-bye."
She raised her lips to his in a cold kiss.
Dazed with anguish, he turned and left. The door closed on his retreating figure, and Nan sank among the cushions and burst into a flood of passionate tears.
CHAPTER IX
DESPAIR
To the very dawn of Nan's wedding day Stuart had refused to give up hope.
The little financier had sent him an invitation, and worst of all had called to ask that he act as his best man. He refused so curtly that Bivens was deeply wounded. He hastened to soothe his feelings with a plausible explanation.
"The fact is, Bivens, I've always hated church funerals and weddings—of the two I prefer funerals——"