Vallero continued calling at the house daily and sending the rarest flowers with which her room was filled, presenting a garden picture in which Truth became master over her former life - realizing at last that she must be true to herself and become an "individuality" which was now demanding its right.

Mrs. Ralston came in frequently when Truth was able to sit up, chatting pleasantly on impersonal subjects, avoiding all reference to Vallero.

"I see by the morning paper," said Mrs. Ralston indifferently, "that the Rev. Bourdalone was out of the city; had gone to his mother's who was very ill; also that his wife is about to sail for Paris. She ought to have shown better judgment," commented Mrs. Ralston, "and waited until Adoni's mother had recovered. But it looks just like her; Frances Bourdalone will never let sickness or anything interfere with her enjoyment."

"But, mother, perhaps she went before they received word of Mrs. Bourdalone's illness."

"No, my child, for the paper stated that Adoni left Tuesday evening and Thursday night the Murrays gave a dinner in her honor. There is a silly rumor that a French count who was her constant companion all last winter will sail for Paris on the same liner."

Truth's heart beat quickly and her face flushed with resentment against Frances as she exclaimed:

"I know she is very daring, but I hardly believe that she has lost all sense of propriety."

"She seems to delight in outraging it. Some day she will overstep the boundary and society will cast her out forever." Perceiving the nervous strain that fell upon Truth, Mrs. Ralston changed the subject at once to one more agreeable, keeping up an incessant chatter on trifling things until she left the room.

When her mother had gone, Truth arose and sat by the window, meditating upon what she had heard. The sudden appearance of Vallero, changed her thoughts. Hastily she saw him coming up the walk and enter the house. Truth waited and watched in breathless expectancy, but he did not intrude his presence upon her. In a few minutes she heard him leave the house and breathed a sigh of relief as she watched him turn the corner and out of her sight.

She realized now, more than ever, that she must face him and take the initiative stand. She could not bear the thought of his visits to the house, as if he still held a claim upon her and she determined to put an end to it at once.

The next morning when the nurse had finished her usual routine of work, Truth, in her sweet mannered way, looked at her smilingly, saying:

"It really is absurd to have you wait upon me any longer; I am perfectly able to attend to my own wants and I am going to give you a whole day of recreation, so you will not have to put in your appearance until bedtime. You may go now," commanded Truth kindly, "and tell mother to come to my room as soon as convenient for her; that is all I shall require of you until tonight."

Truth hastened with her toilet and was seated comfortably in a reclining chair when her mother entered.

"Well, dear, you really surprise me in the way you are improving."

"Mother, I can assure you, that I feel perfectly well again, ready to take an active part in life once more. I am actually a disgrace to a sickroom and want you to dismiss the nurse and doctor tomorrow - and mother, there is no need of postponing this painful subject between Clarence and myself. I saw him when he called yesterday. What did he want and what did he say? Mother, please be perfectly frank and honest with me as I intend to be with you and Clarence. What attitude does he hold toward me?"

Mrs. Ralston remained silent, as one does in troubled thought, then began nervously:

"Clarence is very anxious to have you return with him to his home. He protests that he loves you dearly and will be the kindest of husbands."

"That he loves me selfishly and would be a cruel husband - that he has proven to me, mother. You certainly are convinced of the fact now."

"But Clarence denies any cruelty or controlling you hypnotically, and declares the electric shock caused your dazed condition."

"It was the hand of God that cleared the mist from my brain, through this electric shock and released me from his evil influence which held me enthralled during the ceremony and throughout the whole day. My wedding day, a day of horror, that I shall never forget, although I retain only the faintest and confused recollections of it!"

"But my dear child, how strange that you never experienced this sensation before."

"I did, mother, but did not understand my own heart and imagined this strange mysterious feeling was love until I began to fear it and dreaded the thought of being left alone with Clarence; then I realized that we did not love each other and I confessed my fears to him and asked him to release me on our wedding morn------"

"You asked him that?" exclaimed Mrs. Ralston, with a trembling voice.

"Yes, mother, but as usual he overpowered my will and I followed him mechanically - to the church, and to the altar." Truth shuddered. "Even at the last moment I tried to prevent the marriage; tried in vain to say 'no.' Adoni, looking at me with his soulful eyes, seemed to divine my last appeal, when Clarence pierced my eyes, my heart, with a fiery look which made my very soul shrivel with agony, dominating my will and I became oblivious to all my surroundings."

"My poor child," cried Mrs. Ralston, with tears rolling down her cheeks. "Why in the world did you not confide in me?"

"It would have been useless, mother; I would not have been able to convince you, as you never seem to understand me. Even Faith was incredulous."

"Then you told Faith and not your mother?"

"I had to tell some one."

A wounded flush overspread Mrs. Ralston's countenance. It was all too true. She would not have believed and listened to an angel's warning. Nothing but the ocular demonstration could have proved that which she was unwilling to admit, therefore she did not press the argument any further.