The shield was down between them. Man and
woman, they stared, understandingly, in each other's eyes.
"Leave her to me!" commanded Nathaniel, and strode toward the prostrate
form.
"You've lied first and last. Neither McAlpin nor any other honest man
will have you! Go!"
"I will go and--my hate I leave with you!"
And when Theodora opened her eyes she was lying on the rough couch in the
sunny kitchen, and Nathaniel was bathing her face with cool water.
"The child?" faltered the mother, looking pleadingly around. And then
Nathaniel showed mercy, the only mercy in his power.
"She's gone to McAlpin. They leave for the States to-night. It's you and
I alone now to the end of the way."
"Husband, husband! We've been hard on her; we've driven her to----"
"Hush, you! foolish one. Would you defy God? Each one of us walks the
path our feet are set upon. 'Twas fore-ordained and her being ours makes
no difference. Every light woman was--some one's, God knows--and with Him
there be no respecter of persons."
"Oh! but if you had only been kinder. It seems as if we haven't gone
beside her on her path.
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