Part 25 (2/2)
Roswell leaned forward and stroked her head softly. ”I love my wife,” he said, ”and I will not permit you to say such things about her.”
”You don't know how wicked she is; you don't know how black her heart has been,” Marion replied, between the sobs. ”O, Roswell, I shall never be happy till I tell you all about it and ask you to forgive me. I have thought it over every moment since you left, and I have tried to feel right in my heart, but I can't until you know how wicked I have been.
You are too good and generous for a selfish creature like me; but you must know that I have been untrue to you in my heart. Roswell, I did not love you when I married you; I never loved you until a week ago. I did not know your goodness before, and I was thoughtless. O, forgive me, Roswell; forgive me.”
Roswell raised her head until he could look into her face. ”I forgave you long ago, dearest,” he said, ”and now I want to see you dry those sweet eyes. I guessed your trouble last winter. At first it was hard for me to bear, and I had black thoughts in my heart, too; but when I remembered how I had been bound up in my musty cash books and ledgers, and how I had failed to enter into your life, I felt I had no right to reproach you. I saw that you were drifting from me, and I knew the fault was mine. Then I prayed that I might save you and win you back again.”
”And you forgive me,” said Marion, sobbing still.
Roswell kissed her. ”It is I who must be forgiven,” he said. ”I ought to have seen before that a woman like you could not love a crusty old banker, who came home every night covered with the dust of the office. I am a rough fellow who needs a lot of polis.h.i.+ng up, but I want you to try and see what you can make of me, and I want your love.”
”My darling,” said Marion. ”I love you as I never knew I could love. I thought the wild fancy of the moment was love, but I have learned my mistake. If you will take me into your heart again I will try so hard to make you a good wife.”
A faint sunbeam came through the eastern window and glanced feebly along the floor; then it grew stronger and stronger, until the gloomy library was brightened by a flood of rich, warm sunlight. The storm had ceased.
The clouds had rolled away.
”It takes some such trial as ours,” Roswell said, ”to call forth love.
We know now how necessary we are to each other, don't we, dear?”
The look of sweet tenderness in Marion's eyes gave him his answer.
”Let us think no more of those days, my darling,” said Roswell, throwing his arms about his wife and drawing her closer to his side. ”We will forget the past and live in the future. What answer shall I send about the cottage?” As he said this he reached toward the table to get the letter. Marion's eyes followed his hand, and they fell upon a name signed to a note lying there.
”That man!” she cried, turning her head away and hiding her face on Roswell's shoulder.
”That man will worry you no more,” he said, taking up the note. ”Read what he says.”
Marion took the paper and read:
”DEAR MR. SANDERSON:
”I wish to say that I have obtained the loan I required from the 'Grocers' National,' so I shall not need to keep my appointment with you. I leave for New York to-day, and shall be unable to see you on your return from St. Louis. Thanking you for your kindness to me while in Chicago, believe me, with kindest regards,
”Yours faithfully,
”June 29. DUNCAN GRAHAME.”
Marion shuddered as she put down the note. It told its story and she felt that there was nothing more to be said.
”This is the letter I want you to answer,” said Roswell, taking up the one from Bar Harbor.
Marion looked thoughtfully at the floor a moment, then, glancing up, she said: ”If you don't mind, dear, I should like to go to some quieter place. I have had excitements before, but I have never had my husband, and I want him all to myself.”
”My darling,” said Roswell.
Florence entered the room and stood for a moment near the door. At first she was too surprised to speak, then, appreciating the propriety of making her presence known, she retreated a few steps and said: ”May I come in?”
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