"Good night; I'm infinitely sorry to leave you here, North, but I suppose it can't be helped--" The sheriff entered the room while he was yet speaking.
"Finished your chat, General ?" he asked.
"Yes, thank you, Conklin.

Good night.

Good night, North," and Elizabeth's father hurried from the room.
For a moment North stood silent, staring absently at the door that had just closed on the general's burly figure.

He still held Elizabeth's letter in his hand.

In fancy he was seeing her as she had bent above it, her face tender, compassionate; and then there rose the vision of that crowded room with its palpable atmosphere, its score of curious faces all turned toward him in eager expectation.