“Regie Brookes is one of the best and noblest fellows that ever lived,” she said, distinctly, “and on a certain occasion, several years ago, I was fool enough to refuse to marry him.”
“Oh, Miss Allyn!” gasped Dollie, “was Dr. Brookes in love with you and did you throw him over on account of that—that Mr. Colebrook?”
“I guess those are about the facts in the case,” said Miss Allyn, bitterly. “Some women are big geese where men are concerned, but I wasn’t simply a goose, I was a whole flock,” she added, laughing.
“Do you suppose he is all over it?” asked Dollie, who was beginning to feel sympathetic.
“I hope so, I am sure,” said Miss Allyn, quickly. “Why, that was years ago—we were almost children.”
“You would not believe him guilty of wronging a poor girl, would you?” asked Marion, her cheeks tingling as she said it.
“Never!” cried Miss Allyn, emphatically. “He could not do it! Regie Brookes is the soul of chivalry and honor!”
“Then, I will tell you what I mean,” said Marion, slowly, and she repeated the sad story of Kittie’s death and the subsequent detail of the photograph now in her possession.
When she had finished her story, Dollie looked bewildered, but Miss Allyn’s expression of absolute faith had not changed an atom.
“Let me see the picture,” she said at once.