OnthenightofAdrianceHilgarde’sopeningconcertinParisEverettsatbythebedintheranchhouseinWyoming，watchingoverthelastbattlethatwehavewiththefleshbeforewearedonewithitandfreeofitforever。Attimesitseemedthattheserenesoulofhermusthaveleftalreadyandfoundsomerefugefromthestorm，andonlythetenaciousanimallifewerelefttodobattlewithdeath。Shelaboredunderadelusionatoncepitifulandmerciful，thinkingthatshewasinthePullmanonherwaytoNewYork，goingbacktoherlifeandherwork。WhenshearousedfromherstuporitwasonlytoasktheportertowakenherhalfanhouroutofJerseyCity，ortoremonstratewithhimaboutthedelaysandtheroughnessoftheroad。AtmidnightEverettandthenursewereleftalonewithher。PoorCharleyGaylordhadlaindownonacouchoutsidethedoor。Everettsatlookingatthesputteringnightlampuntilitmadehiseyesache。Hisheaddroppedforwardonthefootofthebed，andhesankintoaheavy，distressfulslumber。HewasdreamingofAdriance’sconcertinParis，andofAdriance，thetroubadour，smilinganddebonair，withhisboyishfaceandthetouchofsilvergrayinhishair。Heheardtheapplauseandhesawtherosesgoingupoverthefootlightsuntiltheywerestackedhalfashighasthepiano，andthepetalsfellandscattered，makingcrimsonsplotchesonthefloor。DownthiscrimsonpathwaycameAdriancewithhisyouthfulstep，leadinghisprimadonnabythehand；adarkwomanthistime，withSpanisheyes。
Thenursetouchedhimontheshoulder；hestartedandawoke。
Shescreenedthelampwithherhand。EverettsawthatKatharinewasawakeandconscious，andstrugglingalittle。Heliftedhergentlyonhisarmandbegantofanher。Shelaidherhandslightlyonhishairandlookedintohisfacewitheyesthatseemednevertohaveweptordoubted。“Ah，dearAdriance，dear，dear，“shewhispered。
Everettwenttocallherbrother，butwhentheycamebackthemadnessofartwasoverforKatharine。
TwodayslaterEverettwaspacingthestationsiding，waitingforthewestboundtrain。CharleyGaylordwalkedbesidehim，butthetwomenhadnothingtosaytoeachother。Everett’sbagswerepiledonthetruck，andhisstepwashurriedandhiseyeswerefullofimpatience，ashegazedagainandagainupthetrack，watchingforthetrain。Gaylord’simpatiencewasnotlessthanhisown；thesetwo，whohadgrownsoclose，hadnowbecomepainfulandimpossibletoeachother，andlongedforthewrenchoffarewell。