Part 100 (2/2)

”Your allegory seems turning in your favor, Raphael,” said Esther, with a sudden memory.

The pensive smile that made her face beautiful lit up the dark eyes.

”What allegory is that of Raphael's?” said Strelitski, reflecting her smile on his graver visage. ”The long one in his prize poem?”

”No,” said Raphael, catching the contagious smile. ”It is our little secret.”

Strelitski turned suddenly to look at the emigrants. The smile faded from his quivering mouth.

The last moment had come. Raphael stooped down towards the gentle softly-flus.h.i.+ng face, which was raised unhesitatingly to meet his, and their lips met in a first kiss, diviner than it is given most mortals to know--a kiss, sad and sweet, troth and parting in one: _Ave et vale_--hail and farewell.”

”Good-bye, Strelitski,” said Raphael huskily. ”Success to your dreams.”

The idealist turned round with a start. His face was bright and resolute; the black curl streamed buoyantly on the breeze.

”Good-bye,” he responded, with a giant's grip of the hand. ”Success to your hopes.”

Raphael darted away with his long stride. The sun was still bright, but for a moment everything seemed chill and dim to Esther Ansell's vision.

With a sudden fit of nervous foreboding she stretched out her arms towards the vanis.h.i.+ng figure of her lover. But she saw him once again in the tender, waving his handkerchief towards the throbbing vessel that glided with its freight of hopes and dreams across the great waters towards the New World.

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