The herald., 1897-11-28

Never did I meet such look. 1t
seemed to be compound of life and
death, the love earthly and the love
eternal.
Good friends" she said calmly turn
ing to them, as though she had been
the minister and accustomed to speak,
Il have summoned my love hastily. I
have somewhat to say to him. VIII
you leave us alone for ten minutes?
have a word to say in his ear alone.
1t is not strange, is it, at such time?"
And she smiled at them, while
stood dumb and astonished For
knew not whence the lass, ordinarily so
still and fond, had gotten her language
She spoke as one who has made up his
mind and to whom fit and prepared
words come without effort.
When they had gone, she sat down
on the chair again, and. taking my
hand, motioned me to kneel down be-
side her.
Then she laid her hand to my hair,
and touched it lightly.
"Quintn." she said, "you and I have
not long to sit SWeethearting together.
1 must say quickly that which l have
to say. I am, you will say, bold i'm
modest lass. You remember it was l
that courted you, compelled you, fol-
lowed you, spied on you. But then,
you see, l loved you. Now I want to
ask you to marry me!
Nay she said, interrupting my
words more with her hand than with
her voice, 'nnisjudge me not. l am to
die-to die soon. 1t has been revealed
to me that l have battered the life
eternal for this. And, since it is so,
want to drink the sweetness of it to the
cups bottom. | have made a bargain
with God. I have prayed, and l have
promised. that if he will put it in your
/ heart to wed with me for an hour,
will take with gratitude and thankful
ness all that lies waiting over there
beyond the Black River"
She waved her hand down toward the
water
1 smiled and nodded hopefully and
corfortingly to her. AT that moment
felt that nothing was too great for
me to do. And it mattered little when
married her I had ever meant to be
true to her, save in that which l could
not help-the love of my heart Of
hearts, which, having been another
from the beginning, was not mine to
give.
Jean Gemmell smiled.
81 thank you, Quintin," she said;
''this is like you, and better than I de-
serve. Had it been q matter of days
or weeks, / would never have troubled
you. But it's only the matter of an
hour or two"
She paused little stroking my head
fond!y.
And afterwards you will say, re-
membering me, Poor young thing
she loved me-loved me truly"
'Ah, Quintin I think l should have
made you good wife. Love helps all
things, they say. Put your hand be-
| low my head, Quintin. Tell me again
that you love me. Sweetheart, (now
she was Whispering) do you know-I
have to tell you all that you should
say to me? Is that fair, that / should
make love to you and to myself too?"
| l groaned aloud.
God help us, Jean" I said, 1--WE shall
yet be happy together"
And at the moment 1 meant it. felt
that q lifetime of sacrifice would not
make up for such love.
She patted me on the head pacifying-
ly, as if I had been a fractions bairn.
Yes, yes, then" she said, soothing
ly, 1--WE shall be happy, you and L. What
was ii you saiH the other Sabbath day?
] knew not what it meant then. But
methinks / begin to understand now
| passing the love of Woman!' "
! The cough shook her, but she strove
to hide it, going on quickly with her
words, as one who has no time to lose.
That is the way / love you, Quintin,
| passing the love of woman why, I
do not even grudge you to her"
She smiled again, and said cheerfully,
"Now we will call them in
| / was going to the door to do it ac-
cording to her word, for that night we
all obeyed her as though she had been
the Queen. ! was almost at the door,
when she rose to her feet and held out
her arms entreatingly.
"Quntin, Quintin, kiss me once,'
she said "once before they come"
. I ran to her and kissed her on the
brow. 80, not thereon the mouth!