He had never imagined it coming to any of his near and dear ones, especially not to Carlia--Carlia, his neighbor, his chummy companion in fields and highways, his schoolmate.

He pictured her in many of her wild adventures as a child, and in her softer moods as a grown-up girl.

He saw again her dark eyes flash with anger, and then her pearly teeth gleam in laughter at him.

He remembered how she used to run from him, and then at other times how she would cling to him as if she pleaded for a protection which he had not given.

The weak had reached out to the strong, and the stronger one had failed.