taken her own life." 

"What?" Tom almost shouted the word, and his face showed an absolutely uncomprehending amazement. 

"She killed herself to-night," Miss Morton went on, whose efforts were now directed toward making the young man understand, rather than towards sparing his feelings. 

But Tom could not seem to grasp it. "What do you mean?" he said, catching her by both arms. "Madeleine? Killed herself?" 

"Yes," said Miss Morton, shaken out of her own calm by Tom's excited voice. "In the library, after we had all gone to bed, she stabbed herself with that horrible paper-cutter thing. Did you know she was unhappy?" 

"Unhappy? No; why should she be? Tomorrow was to have been her wedding day!" 

"Today," corrected Miss Morton. "It is already the day on which our dear Madeleine was to have become a bride. And instead——" Glancing around the brilliant room and at the bridal bower, Miss Morton's composure gave way entirely, and she sobbed hysterically. At this Cicely Dupuy came across from the library. Putting her arm around Miss Morton, she led the sobbing woman away, and without a word to Tom Willard gave him a glance which seemed to say that he must look out for himself, for her duty was to attend Miss Morton. 

As the two women left the drawing-room, Tom followed them. He walked slowly, and stared about as if uncertain where to go. He paused a moment midway in the room, and, stooping, picked up some small object from the carpet, which he put in his waistcoat pocket. A moment more and he had crossed the hall and stood at the library door, gazing at the scene which had already shocked and saddened the others. 

With a groan, as of utter anguish, Tom involuntarily put up one hand before his eyes. Then, pulling himself together with an effort, he seemed to dash away a tear, and walked into the room, saying almost harshly, "What does it mean?" 

Doctor Hills rose to meet him, and by way of a brief explanation he put into Tom's hand the paper he had found on the table. Tom read the written message, and looked more stupefied than ever. With a sudden gesture he turned towards Schuyler Carleton and said in a low voice, "but you _did_ love her, didn't you?" 

"I did," replied Carleton simply. 

"Why should she have thought you didn't?" went on Tom, 

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