And as he gazed at the dark, brilliant face that had once charmed him so, he told himself that surely the old love would come back as soon as that painful, lingering remorse over Jessie should fade from his mind.
Who could help loving beautiful Cora, even in spite of the glimpses he had had of cruel depths in her mind? He would try to forget how heartlessly she had acted to her hapless little rival and love her again in spite of all.
He knew that scores of men envied him the prize he had won in the promise of her hand; even Ernest Noel, his best man, scarcely disguised the fact that he had fallen a victim to her witcheries, and frankly envied his friend, so he was not surprised on going out to meet Noel coming up the steps to call on Cora, as had now become his daily habit.
CHAPTER XXI.
PLAYING WITH FIRE.
The young men nodded gayly at each other, then Ernest Noel passed into the house.
“How radiant you look, ma belle!” he exclaimed enviously.
Cora’s red lips parted over her pearly teeth in an enchanting smile of joy, as she answered:
“Frank has just gone, and we were naming the wedding day again.”
She knew well that the announcement would pierce his heart like a sword, for only yesterday Ernest had proved unfaithful to his friend and pleaded for her love.
Beautiful Cora had laughed at her passionate suitor, enraging him with her scorn.