The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-07-03

Malcom Kirk to himself, and there
was the first positive hope in his heart
that he had dared to feel. He had new
er appeared to such good advantage.
Mrs. Penrose, experienced as she was
in the ways of society and familiar
with some of the most brilliant men
and women. felt positive charm in
Kinks voice and manner. His awk-
wardness for awhile was subordinate
to his higher gifts.
Mr.. Penrose was In New York on
business. Malcolm Kirk learned after
ward some things in his history and
why John Gilbert had been allowed to
meet his great financial losses without
help from his own sister, who to a
large extent had been powerless to per-
suade her husband to come to her
brothers aid. But she was absorbed
tonight in the thought of Dorothy. He
knew that a crisis in his life had come.
After tea they went into the recep-
ton room again. Mrs. Penrose staid
for half an hour and then suddenly
went out, and Dorothy and Malcom
Kirk were left alone.
He was fully aware that the whole
future of his life work would be shap-
ed by the events of the next few min
utes, but he had never felt more
Christian than now. There was a posi-
tive religious excitement of the high
est, purest, noblest character In all the
thought of his love for Dorothy. There
always had been. He felt that 1t was
no cheap or silly or shallow sentiment
that moved him to think of her as Of
no other being in the world. There
he began to love her when he had fail
ed to speak her name In prayer. He
knew that his Christian faith was
sanctified and beautified by this hui
man love.
He rose and went over near her. He
had the miniature In his hand. When
he spoke, it was in great simplicity,
but in great directness.
"You know what have come for.
You know that l love you wholly.
You know what my life will be. You
know that I am poor. Dorothy, can
you share such life with me? Must
give this back, or may keep it al
ways"
She was sitting with her face partly
in shadow, and she slowly rose and
turned and faced him. Like all girls
who dream of lovers, she had her
dreams, her ideals, her imaginings.
She looked up at him now, and the
blood rushed impetuously through him
as he saw the beginning Of her answer.
She had learned to love him during
his absence abroad, during her recent
sorrow, during the days that followed
her bereavement. 1t was not so sud.
den as it might seem, for Dorothy had
learned when Raleigh spoke to her
that afternoon that the greatest rea-
son why she could not love him was
because she already loved Malcom
Kirk. So she gave him then and there
what he asked. All, Malcom Kirk, NOT
this side of heaven will you know the
power of that flood that lifted your
heart and all it contained when YOU
first heard the woman you loved say
as she lifted ner face to yours: "Yes,
will share your life with you. Yes,
love you."
Two hours later Malcom Kirk wen1
out into the starry night and down OF
the sea beach, and with the freshness
of the sea breeze blowing about his un
covered head he thanked God for th'
precious, priceless gift Of this WON
ans heart. They had had much t.
say, as true lovers always have. AL
ways they had come back to the undy
ing theme of their love for each other
"She loves me!' he kept saying to him
self. And the waves and the nigh
wind and the stars and the harbo
lights and the pines near the beach al
Joined in the same song. He walke'
I'D and down the sands until the earl.
morning. He found his face wet one
with tears. He ran across long stril
: Of beach exultant and walked fron
one of his reveries to find himself kne
deep in water, for the tide was comm
In, and he knew nothing Of tides, onl
Of the one that had risen in his owl
spirit.
But he drew back out Of the watel
laughing, and finally found his way t
the inn down by the pier where b
had breakfasted. But what he ate Q
whether he ate anything was probabl
unknown to him; at least he was nc
able to give Dorothy satisfactory al
swers when he came back to the house
His dream was reality. She me
him with the look on her face that wa
never to die out Of it as long as h
lived, and together they went to Sc
Mrs. Penrose.