Part 54 (2/2)
”You may not quite understand me, my dear Miss Elsworth. I do not say that I dare hope for a return of love from you, but I do say that it would make my life brighter. I know that you can win a man far better than I am in every respect, but that does not make me love you less.”
”Hush, Mr. Graves, I cannot listen to you.”
”I do not blame you, but I have often wished that you were not as grand a woman as you are--that is, so far above me--there might be some hope for me.”
”I am not above you in any respect, but I cannot listen to such words from you.”
”Why not from me?”
”Because it is not right.”
”What can be wrong about my telling you that I love you?”
”I cannot tell you all the secrets of my life, but let this satisfy you: that it would be wrong for me to tell you that I loved you, and such a thing can never be.”
”I wonder why fate is so bitterly cruel to me,” said Ross, in a sad voice.
”Perhaps, Mr. Graves, if the veil were lifted that hides the life secrets of some of us there would be heartaches revealed even greater than our own, though G.o.d knows I do pity you, and will acknowledge that your sorrow is a great one and almost too hard to bear. I can sympathize with you, for my own life has its waste places, but I try to look over them and keep my eyes as much as I can on the flowery hills beyond. There are few lives without clouds, and no cloud but that will at some time break and show the silver lining.”
Ross shook his head and turned sadly away.
”I know,” he said, looking toward the western sky, ”I do not expect that you could love me or that you would stoop----”
”Stop,” she said, in a firm, low voice. ”It is not that I would need to stoop. I am not above you in any respect.”
”But, tell me truly, Miss Elsworth,” Ross said, as he turned and grasped her hand, holding it firmly in his own, ”tell me, is it because I am disgraced?”
”No, for in my eyes you are as free from sin as any man I know.”
”I thank you for those words,” he said, releasing her hand. ”It is a great comfort to know that you respect me.”
”I have the greatest respect for you, and wish in my heart you might be happy.”
”Do not send me away without answering me one question. Do you love another?”
”Have you a right to know the secrets of my heart?”
”Perhaps not, but if it is so I shall give you up without another word.”
”Then be satisfied that it is so.”
”G.o.d help me,” said Ross, as he turned to leave her.
”Ross,” she said, in a low, soft voice, ”do not be offended; be a brother to me, for as such I shall always care for you.”
”I will try,” he said, with a smile, as he looked into her eyes, ere he left the spot.
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