"Well, one of my own family would, of course, be more apt to do so than any one else. And I was never known in this part of the country."
"No; but people travel about a great deal; Northerners come South frequently; especially in winter; and you may, any day, come face to face with some old acquaintance who will recognize you, and have you arrested; and then—" she hid her face and shuddered. "O Harry," she cried, "I shall live in terror till I know you are safe on the other side of the ocean."
"I'll go in all haste when I have secured my prize," he said coldly.
"Give it up," she entreated, "you have no right to drag an innocent girl down to infamy with you. Better go and make an honest living by the labor of your hands."
"I wasn't brought up to that, and infinitely prefer to live by my wits," he answered, with an evil smile, "and they'll have to help me to the means to pay my passage to those foreign shores you so highly recommend."
"Sell this: it would surely bring more than enough for that," she said, pointing to the glittering gem on his finger.
"Paste, my dear, nothing but paste," he laughed. "Clever imitation, isn't it?"
"Ah, Harry, a fair type of its owner, I fear," she said sorrowfully.