The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-22
Where is Franc1s. Mrs. Penrose

HE is not coming back tonight" re-
piled Dorothy softly, and then for the
first time she saw Malcolm Kirk stand
ing there by the fireplace.
She took an eager step toward him
and then suddenly stopped, while her
face glowed rosy red in the candle
light. AS for Malcolm Kirk, he stood
very erect and still, but out Of his
eyes shone the lovers look as he faced
the woman Of his hearts longing. He
did not try tt conceal 1t, and Dor
othy knew as we'll as if he had spoken
it aloud that he said, 81 love you, Dor
othy Gilbert. and l cannot do my life
work best without you" Mrs. Penrose
saw that look also and respected it.
The servant entered and announced
that tea was ready, and Malcolm Kirk
found himself shaking hands with Dor
othy and saying some very common
thing about being glad to meet her. A
few minutes later he found himself at
the table with Dorothy and her aunt.
He ate and talked at first with a re-
pressed excitement that gradually be-
came a source of eloquent converse
ton. No one asked any more questions
about Francis Raleigh. 1t is certain
that Mrs. Penrose and Malcolm Kirk
understood that he had pleaded his suit
again with Dorothy and had again
been unsuccessful.
"She has given him his answer" said
Malcolm 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 a 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. falcon 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 hel
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 staiu
for half an hour and then suddenly
went out, and Dorothy and Malcolm
Kirk We're 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 a
Christian than now. There was a posi-
tive religious excitement of the high
est, purest, noblest character in all the
thought of bis love for Dorothy. There
always had been. He felt that it was
no cheap or silly or shallow sentiment
that moved him to think of her as of
no other being in the world. There
had not been a night of his life since
he began to love her when he had fail
ed to speak ner name in a prayer. He
knew that his Christian faith was
sanctified and beautifed by this hui
man love.
He rose and went over neal her. &c
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 a life with me? Must
l 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 im%petuously through him
as NC 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 hel
that afternoon that the greatest rca
son why she could not love him was
because she already loved Malcon
Kirk. So she gave him then and there
what he asked. All, Malcolm Kirk, no
this side of heaven will you know the
power of that hood that lifted YOU
heart and all it contained when you
first heard the woman you loved say
as she lifted her face to yours: Yes,
will share your life with you. Yes,
/ love YOU
Two hours later Malcolm Kirk Went
out into the starry night and down oil
the sea beach, and with the freshness
of the sea breeze blowing about his I'm
covered head he thanked God for the
precious, priceless gift of this WON
ans heart. They had had much tt
say, as true lovers always have. AL
! ways they had come back to the indy
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 walked
up and down the sands until the earl,
morning. He found his face wet ono,
with tears. He ran across a long STRIP
Z of hancb ay,ltapt and yya1l,nl from