My husband was a gentleman." It was with trembling hands I unfolded the worn sheet.

Somehow the tragedy of the lives my own had touched so nearly for the last few days had become an essential part of me.
"John Silverthorn Brainard," I read, the name identical with the one I had just seen as the early signature of the man who claimed a husband's rights over Mrs.Packard.The date with what anxiety I looked at it!--preceded by two years that of the time he united himself to Olympia Brewster.

No proof of the utter falsity of his dishonorable claim could be more complete.

As I folded up the paper and handed it back, Bess noted the change which had come to me.

Panting with excitement she cried: "You look happy, happy! You know something you have not told me.