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 securing medical attendance for Colonel Lauriston and making plans for his care. She and Elvin met but twice during the day and then spoke to each other only in monosyllables. At last plans were completed to her satisfaction and she started for the woods to meet Bennet. As she walked down the lane leading to the woods Elvin was looking from his window.

"Ah," he muttered in surmise. "She's not going into that woods for nothing. She's meeting him there, durn her. Well, she'll meet him the last time today." With that he turned into his room loaded his revolver and started to follow her. When he left the house Lida was now lost to view and he hunted in the woods some time before he discovered a trace of her.

Lida and Bennet had met and were walking at the edge of the forest planning their departure, unmindful of the menace stalking them down.

"Do you know, Truman, there are but two regrets that I have at leaving this place."

"I know you must love it, Lida Mine.—I know how you must feel. In a way I'm sorry to take you away.—It's your home."

"That's it. It is all the home I have known. How existence changes as we go through life.—Here's the spot that has known all my childhood joys and happiness—all my little troubles and cares and worries. Yet I'm leaving them—and willingly for—" she looked up tenderly at the young man at her side, then softly said—"you." As she spoke she pressed the arm to which she clung, a