Part 31 (2/2)

”And that we love--them.”

I wrote it slowly, half-minded to write ”one another” instead of ”them.” Never had I been so near to love.

”And--and--let me see,” she mused, finger on lip--”I think it not too impudent to ask their blessing. It _may_ happen, you know, though Destiny fight against it; and if it does, why there we have their blessing all ready!”

I thought for a long while, then wrote, asking their blessing upon our wedded union.

”_That_ word 'wedded,'” observed Elsin, ”commits us. Scratch it out. I have changed my mind. Destiny may accept the challenge, and smite me where I sit.”

”What do you mean?” I asked.

”I mean--nothing. Yet that word 'wedded' must not stand. It is an affront to--to Destiny!”

”I fear nothing from Destiny--with you, Elsin.”

”If you write that word, then, I tell you we must betroth ourselves this instant!--and fight Fate to its knees. Dare you?”

”I am ready,” said I coolly.

She looked at me sidewise in quick surprise, chin resting in her clasped hands. Then she turned, facing me, dropping her elbows on the polished table.

”You would wed me, Carus?” she said slowly.

”Yes.”

”Because--because--you--love me?”

”Yes.”

A curious tremor possessed my body; it was not as though I spoke; something within me had stirred and awakened and was twitching at my lips. I stared at her through eyes not my own--eyes that seemed to open on her for the first time. And, as I stared, her face whitened, her eyes closed, and she bowed her head to her hands.

”Keep pity for others,” she said wearily; ”keep your charity for some happier maid who may accept it, Carus. I would if I dared. I have no pride left. But I dare not. This is the end of all, I think. I shall never ask alms of Love again.”

Then a strange thing happened, quick as a thrust; and my very soul leaped, quivering, smitten through and through with love of her. In the overwhelming shock I stretched out my hand like a man dazed, touching her fingers, and the thrill of it seemed to stun me.

Never, never could I endure to have her look at another as she looked at me when our hands touched, but I could not utter a word; and I saw her lip quiver, and the hopeless look deaden her eyes again.

I rose blindly to my feet, speechless, heart hammering at my throat, and made to speak, but could not.

She, too, had risen, gazing steadily at me; and still I could not utter a word, the blood surging through me and my senses swimming. Love! It blinded me with its clamor; it frightened me with its rus.h.i.+ng tide; it dinned in my ears, it ran riot, sweeping every vein, choking speech, while it surged on, wave on wave mounting in flame.

She stood there, pallidly uncertain, looking on the conflagration love had wrought. Then something of its purport seemed to frighten her, and she shrank away step by step, pa.s.sing the portal of her chamber, retreating, yet facing me still, fascinated eyes on mine.

I heard a voice unlike my own, saying: ”I love you, Elsin. Why do you repulse me?”

And as she answered nothing, I went to her and took her hand. But the dismayed eyes only widened, the color faded from her parted lips.

”Can you not see,” I whispered, ”can you not see I love you?”

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