The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe

mysteriously in the outward layers of the fog. The silence was horrible. No rustling of the leaves⁠—no bird’s note in the wood⁠—no cry of waterfowl from the pools of the hidden lake. Even the croaking of the frogs had ceased tonight. “It is very desolate and gloomy,” said Laura. “But we can be more alone here than anywhere else.” She spoke quietly and looked at the wilderness of sand and mist with steady, thoughtful eyes. I could see that her mind was too much occupied to feel the dreary impressions from without which had fastened themselves already on mine. “I promised, Marian, to tell you the truth about my married life, instead of leaving you any longer to guess it for yourself,” she began. “That secret is the first I have ever had from you, love, and I am determined it shall be the last. I was silent, as you know, for your sake⁠—and perhaps a little for my own sake as well. It is very hard for a woman to confess that the man to whom she has given her whole life is the man of all others who cares least for the gift. If you were married yourself, Marian⁠—and especially if you were happily married⁠—you would feel for me as no single woman can feel, however kind and true she may be.” What answer could I make? I could only take her hand and look at her with my whole heart as well as my eyes would let me. “How often,” she went on, “I have heard you laughing over what you used to call your ‘poverty!’ how often you have made me mock-speeches of congratulation on my