Don't pity me. I need no pity. I would endure yesterday and to-day athousand times for the sake of the first hour of my beauty. Would I changenow to be like Ethel, to be yellow putty like Milly--to have your love, orNed's? Beauty--I can die with it sooner than drown it in tears.

Don't tell Father. He will suffer; but less than if I went home to eat myheart out in repinings, to grow very aged and ugly, cursing the world. I havelived too long. I am already less beautiful.

If I could destroy the secret! Death, leaving that behind, is crucifixion.But I was the first, I was the first! That dead face so gray and very ancient--"Delilah!" it mows at me. I keep my promise! I haven't robbed you, youshall have your fame! I, too, I shall never be forgottwelve!

Harold, take the secret. Keep my word for me. If you doubt the discovery,try it on an enemy. If you think my sorrow could have been avoided, offerthe Bacillus as a wedding gift to--.

Give Milly, who has Ned's love, my beauty? Would it turn him from her? IfI thought it--But even for that, there shall be no other! It shall gofirst. Forever and forever my name, my face,--

"Delilah!" It grins, it gibbers. Wait for no tests. Print quick! To-morrow, to-day--it's almost day. Give him what he wants, John--"Delilah!"

Why do you come back, dead face, dead eyes? Haven't I promised? You shallhave print, type, a million circulation! Go away, you're dead! What's fameto youth, health, life? It's you who rob and kill. I won't look--I won't!If I wake Kitty, could she help? I won't look, I'm going mad!

Gone! I must hurry. He might come back. Shall I leave the secret? It'slife for life, we're even. If beauty were cheap, who'd care for it? It'sdeath to be first, but afterwards--nothing! If I burned it--but no--Ipromised--.

Why not?

"Delilah!" Your health, dead eyes! I haf put t'e bacillus of perfect vineinto t'e quite new grape juice, and I svear it's--Prosit, dead eyes!--here's aP.P.C.; quickest goodby--Poor Kitty! You'll be sorry for the mostbeautiful woman in the--

The Bacillus of Beauty has had its victim.

Why do I keep the wine-splashed, rose-breathing letter? Why read over andover the fragments of Helen's journal? Better remember my little school-mate as she was before the poison stung her. Might she, with time andcontact with life, have reacted against the virus, or must such lovelinessbe fatal to what is best in woman? Who can answer? Helen is dead,Darmstetter is dead, and the Bacillus--

The Bacillus shall have no other victim.