The sight of her anguish almost maddened Ronald Valchester.
"Lina, I cannot bear this suspense any longer," he cried. "Tell me why you will not marry me?"
She came nearer; she took both his hands and held them in her own; she looked at him with brave, patient eyes.
"Oh, Ronald, my best beloved," she said, trying to speak calmly and bravely, "you must remember while I am telling you that it will not be for long. The obstacle shall be removed—Uncle Charlie has promised me that. But I cannot be your wife now, because—oh, Ronald, because—against my own will—I am already—married to another."
A terrible pause! The blue-gray eyes, looking up into the tear-wet black ones, grew dark with intense emotion; the handsome face grew corpse-like in its awful pallor.
"Lina!" he gasped, then words failed him.
"Yes, Ronald," she said, "last night that man had a priest in his awful cave. He read the ceremony of marriage over Gerald Huntington and myself; he pronounced us man and wife. But, Ronald, Uncle Charlie will get a divorce for me, and I will marry you as soon as I am free. Ronald——"
She stopped in terror. He had turned suddenly upon his side, and after a low, gasping sound in his throat, and one quiver of the limbs, lay still, with the bluish pallor of death on his face.
She laid her hand on his heart, but there was no movement.
"Ronald is dead!" she cried, and her wail of anguish re-echoed through the house.