When John woke up and learned whose was the presence that was bending over him, and whose the cool hand that lay upon his forehead, he groaned again and went to sleep.

But Jess did not go to sleep.

She sat by him there throughout the night, till at last the cold lights of the dawn came gleaming through the window and fell upon the white face of the man she loved.

He was still sleeping soundly, and, as the night was exceedingly hot and oppressive, she had left nothing but a sheet over him.

Before she went to rest a little herself she turned to look at him once more, and as she looked she saw the sheet grow suddenly red with blood.