Part 14 (2/2)
”You trust me implicitly?”
”Perfectly--”
”You have given up all for me,” he went on evenly, ”I'll show your father what I can do for you--”
”You love me--it's enough.”
”No. I have resigned my commission in the army. I have given up my career. We'll live only for each other now and build our nest in the far sunny South beyond the frost line.”
A little smothered cry was her answer. And then her head slowly sank with a sob on his breast.
XI
THE FAIRY BELLS
They built their home on the banks of the great river where the tide sweeps in graceful curve, all but completing the circle of an enchanted isle.
From the little flower-veiled porch through festoons of lacing boughs gleamed the waters of the huge curved mirror held by Nature's hand. The music from the decks of the steamers floated up on the soft air until music and perfume of flowers seemed one.
In the cool of the morning, on swift, high-bred horses, they rode side by side along the river's towering bluff and laughed in sheer joy at their foolish happiness. In the waning afternoon, hand in hand, they walked the sunlit fields and paused at dusk to hear the songs of slaves.
The happiness of lovers is contagious. It sets the hearts of slaves to singing.
In the white solemn splendor of the Southern moon they strolled through enchanted paths of scented roses. On the rustic seat beneath a magnolia in full second bloom they listened to the song of a mocking-bird whose mate had built her nest in the rose trellis beside their door. They could count the beat of his bird heart night after night as he sang the glory of his love and the beauty of his coming brood of young.
”You are happy, dearest?” the lover sighed.
”In heaven,--I am with you.”
”And it shall be forever.”
”Forever!”
”The old life of blood and strife--it seems an ugly dream.”
”Except for the sweet days when you were near.”
”This only is life, my own, to hold your hand, and walk the way together, to build, not to destroy, to make flowers bloom, birds and slaves sing, to create, not kill--production is communion with G.o.d. We live now in His peace that pa.s.seth understanding!”
A long silence followed. An owl in a distant tree top gave a shrill plaintive cry. The bride nestled closer and he felt her s.h.i.+ver.
”You are chill, dearest?” he murmured.
”Just a little.”
”We're forgetting the late August night winds--”
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