Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
|:
nine ean he Rt ere ee a
{
|
4
oa
{
a
t
2
}
Le meer
jee }
06 WILD MARGARET..
‘at Leyton woods; always would she hear the ceaseless
babble of the brook, the song of the linnets! ;
She had not long to wait. There came a quick, firm
step—she knew it so well, although it: had come into her
life so recently—and with a spring like a boy's, Lord Blair
was beside her; not only beside her, but on one knee.
Yor a moment he seemed unable to speak, and the color
came and went on his tanned cheek. .
‘“Do you know,” he said with a smile, and in that
hushed, lingering voice which love takes to itself, * all the
way Lhave been tormenting myself with the dread that
you wouldn’t come!” ;
‘I said that I would come!’”’ she said, with downcast
eyes. oe
“Tknow! And I ought to have known that you would
rather die than break your word. But I thought that per-
haps you would be prevented, that you might have told
some one—Mrs. Hale—”’
‘‘T have told no one,’ said Margaret, with a sudden
feeling of gratitude. ‘
“That is right,’? he said: then, as the shadow swept
over her face, he went on quickly—‘ Not that I should
have cared for myself. No! I would like all the world
to know how I love you; not that they could possibly
know that. Not even you can guess at that, Margaret.
But I should like to tell everybody that I love you, and
that—— But, ah, Margaret, you haven’t told me yet!
Are you going to let me stay? Are you going to let me £0
on loving you? Dearest, you have not come to be har
and cruelto me! You will say ‘yes?’ and he held out: -
his arms to her. . .
Margaret sat silent for a moment, then she raised her
eyes; they seemed heavy with love’s mysterious shyness,
and she breathed the word that gave. her to him. .
His arms closed round her; and he held her to him with
one passionate kiss until, half frightened, she drew away
from him. »
; There was silence between them then, and they sat hand
in hand in that communion of spirit which is only per-
mitted to us poor mortals once in a life. To him she was
the embodiment of all that was beautiful and good! To
her he was the epitome of all that was handsome and
brave; and he was to be good also.now, for had he not said
that her love should be his salvation?
After a time they began to talk, as newly-made lovers
do talk. Short little sentences, full of delicious meaning:
small nothings, which represented the sum of all things to
em,
Then Blair said, suddenly;
vk