Long hours after the woman left the room, Ida May sat by the window looking out into the darkness, and trying to fathom what seemed to her the greatest kind of a mystery.
Why should Frank Garrick take interest enough in her to have her brought here and to pay money for having her retained here? What interest could he have in her?
He had vowed a terrible vengeance upon her when she repulsed his offer of love. But why should his vengeance have taken this form? What benefit could it be to him to shut her in from the world?
As Ida sat there in the waning light, her eyes fell upon a piece of newspaper in the open fire-place.
"I will wrap up my few belongings in that," she muttered, "and then set about making my way out of this place."
As she smoothed out the half sheet, a few lines midway down one of the columns held her spell-bound as they caught her eye.
For a moment she stared at the words. They seemed to fairly turn the heart in her bosom to stone, for they read as follows:
"The engagement is announced of Miss Florence St. John, of No. —, Fifth Avenue, daughter of Mrs. J. St. John, to Mr. Royal Ainsley, of New York. The wedding will take place at Peekskill, on the Hudson, a month from date."
As she read it, the room seemed to whirl around her. With a cry so piteous that it seemed it must reach God's ear, the poor girl sunk on her knees.
Her husband about to marry another!