"But, Alpine, I have no other place to go. Mrs. Stone is my only friend."
"She is your friend because her cousin wants to marry you, and if you refuse Teddy, she will be very angry."
"Do you think so, Alpine?" the young girl exclaimed, startled at the idea.
"I am sure of it. My advice to you is to marry Teddy."
"But I do not love him, Alpine. I—I loved Ralph Chainey—once—so dearly that I feel that I can never love another."
"Why have you turned against Ralph?" asked her step-sister, curiously.
"I can not tell you," faltered Kathleen.
"Do you love him still?"
"No," Kathleen answered, spiritedly; but Alpine did not believe one word.