The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02
CHAPTER XXXIV.

With the removal Of Cranes presence
from the room, a strange, aw kward restraint
came over the two who were leit-the
man who had suffered 50 much for the
wornan's sake. and the girl who had endeav-
ored much.
He was ike a man suddenly thrust into
new world Of freedom. He INDUCED IN II
physical manifestation Of its exhilaration,
drinking In long deep draft of the clover,
scented air. until his great lungs sighed
with the plethora.
II seemed a lifetime that he had lived
in the nosome atmosphere Of feloh'-
cell. But now the crime dropped from him.
free man. In every sense Of the word, he
could straighten himself ~ and drink ofthe
free air.
Allis watched Mortimer ou-iously; she was
TOO happy to speak-just - look upon him
standing there, her undefiled god, her hero.
with his heroism known and appauded
He seemed 80 great, 40 noble. that anything
she might say would be insane, tawdry,
inconsequent; so she waited. patiently,
hapny, tsking no count of time, nor the
SUNSHINE. nor the lit Of the birds, nor even
the dissolution Of Couventionality in the
insupervised tee tee.
The ecsta'ic magnetism If congenial
silence has always potency. aid fs ~pell
crept into Mortimer's soul and laid embargo
on his tongue He crossed over TO Ais, Pr,
and, taking her slender hand in h's own
crouched down on the floor beside her chair
and looked up into her face Just "a grea'
ST Bernard might have done, iuc apahle Of
artcula'ing the wealth of love and gratitude
and faithfuness tia, was In his cart.
Even then the girl did not speak. She
drew the mans strong rugged head clos"
No 70 her face, and nestled her cheek against
his. Low" without words; love greater thai
words! II was like a fairy dream. ard If
either spoke. the gentle gossamer web Of
II would Aoa' away like mist and 81 need
thew must talk fine misery hat had passed
In the end the girl spoke first. saying,
like child having range 81 hu, few words,
You are happy now. my hero
"Too happy. ! almost fen H. wake and
find hat I've been dreaming
-Shall pinch your cor to make sure
you might make me sure, but not that
| wav."
She kissed him.
-Yes. Us real he answered. Even in
dreams happiness is not AZ positive at this.
| You did not doubt?' he asked,
| Never"
You would have waited''
Forever"
And now-and now, we must still wait
And now-and now. we must still
Not forever"
You wish It that way? You will be my
wife when ! am able to make YOU harpy?"'.
Il am happy , ow, and Iwillb be your wife
| when II seems hes, TO YOU"
|
! so perfect. What am / what have done
that l should he deemed worthy Of such
love, such faith?'
You have saved my life, you sought TO
save my brothers honor, YOU gave ne,
| Just a little girl, knowing nothing If auCht
but horses, your love. And what do give
you in return?'
| All, they were surely in love. This self
ahnegation was the manifest evidence
Gradually the outer life past present, and
| future, thrust itself assiduousv through
| the armor Of their love sufficient ", and, like
mortals, they talked of Mortimer's deliver
| ance.
And presently more sanity creeping
| into their discourse, Allis Ci,CoV,I,C II at
she was not at home, and that the setting
sun was blinking reproachiully fair into
| her ewes through the open window as Ice
| hung for a minute. red flushed on the
| purplc-hazcd sky line.
To Ringwood with her drove her knight,
and as they passed none too swiftly by the
gently hushed fclds, they talked Of H."
| wonderful neCromanCy the gods had used
10 set their lives to the sweet music Of hap
! piness. How Iauzanne, the desT it, d.
! had saved RingwCod TO her father, ho"
| he had won the money for Mortimer, low
he had stood sturdy ard true 20 the mis-
| tress who had been kind to him; but not Yet -.
not quite yet, by-and-hy, would Alis tell
who had ridden the gallant chestnut when
| he strove valiantly.
| And about Crane there was full measure
Of confidence and appreciation of his good
| act.
T.. .
Just span Of Fate's hand from those
| two happy mortals sat a man all alone in
| his chamber. On his table was the dust
| of sol,arincss and with his finger he wrote
| in il Forever" But he looked fearlcssly
across the board. for on the other side
sat no grinninR demon Of temptation, nor
| remorso, nor fear
But the fragrauC" was Of lilaCs and of
sweet clover coming through an open win
dow was in his ncstrls; and in lis memory
was a picture Of a face he loved, made
like unto an angels with gratitude, and on
his forehead still burned like a purifying
fire n kiss that reached down into his soul
and filled him with the joy Of thankiulness.
7HE End,