'I love you--I love you, dear,' he continued in a voice ardent,
caressing; 'an' I can't bear to see you suffer.'
She let her face sink to his and kissed him on the mouth, and he clasped
her to his breast and held her, repeating again and again expressions of
his devotion that love made eloquent. Her pale face turned to him seemed
luminous with the ecstacy of the moment. For a brief sweet minute she
abandoned herself to that ecstacy and forgot everything beside.
'I have always loved you, my darling! my darling!' she whispered--'
always. That night at the gate I thought you cared and I was happy, but
afterwards I was afraid. I thought you might hate me for his sake, and I
was wretched.'
'I did try to, Chris--I tried to hate you. I was a fool. I couldn't do
anything but love in spite of myself, an' now I'll help you, dear.'
'No, no, no, Harry; no--you must not!' She put him from her with her
strong arms. 'It is wrong. I cannot let you. It is right that I should
fight for him--he is my father. He has been a good father to me, and I
have loved him and believed in him. It is my duty to fight for him, but
you must not, my dear love. In you it would be a wrong, a crime.'
'He is your father--I love you!
'Yes, yes, and oh, I am glad you love me; but you must leave me to do
what I can alone. It is not your duty to help him.
Pages:
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242