"Why, Louis," she said, w ith a trou
bled face, "I did not think it worth
w bile to explain it to you. The sub
ject wu hateful, and I took it for
granted that you knew all about it."
And so you are to marry him?"
said Ixuis Staib, in a voice so changed
that Nettie scarcely recognized it.
"No, Louis; I intend to write to-day
and offer a price for my hand, which
is promised him. I know him too well
to fear he will not accept it."
"Oh, Nettie, to think of. you being
the promised w rife of another aud affi
anced to me at the same time!"
'Indeed, ou are a little too fast Mr.
Staib. I promised to be Preston's wife
but not yours."
Nettie Austin !"
How could I promise." said Nettie,
turning half away from him, "when
you have never yet asked ?"
She was in her lover's arms the next
second.
