"She was very straight about it, was Elsie. I can't say
that she did not give me every chance of getting out of it
if I wished to do so. `I have had some very disagreeable
associations in my life,' said she; `I wish to forget all about
them. I would rather never allude to the past, for it is very
painful to me. If you take me, Hilton, you will take a woman who
has nothing that she need be personally ashamed of; but you will
have to be content with my word for it, and to allow me to be
silent as to all that passed up to the time when I became yours.
If these conditions are too hard, then go back to Norfolk and
leave me to the lonely life in which you found me.' It was only
the day before our wedding that she said those very words to me.
I told her that I was content to take her on her own terms, and
I have been as good as my word.
"Well, we have been married now for a year, and very happy we
have been. But about a month ago, at the end of June, I saw
for the first time signs of trouble. One day my wife received
a letter from America. I saw the American stamp. She turned
deadly white, read the letter, and threw it into the fire.
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