Part 3 (2/2)

”Helen, why not?” He loosened his clasp and held her off at arms'

length.

”Because.”

”Because what?”

No answer again.

”You aren't--promised to any one else?” For the first time a shadow of uneasy doubt crossed his face.

She shook her head.

”Oh, no.”

”Then what is it?”

Her eyes, frightened and pleading, searched his face. There was a tense moment of indecision. Then in a tragic burst it came.

”Maybe you think I'd--marry you, and be your wife, and have all your folks look down on me!”

”Look _down_ on you?”

”Yes, because I'm not so swell and grand as they are. I'm only--”

With a quick cry he caught her to himself again, and laid a reproving finger on her lips.

”Hus.h.!.+ Don't you let me hear you say that again--those horrid words! You are you, _yourself_, the dearest, sweetest little woman that was ever made, and I love you, and I'm going to marry you. Look down on you, indeed! I'd like to see them try it!”

”But they will. I'm only a nurse-girl.”

”Hus.h.!.+” He almost shook her in his wrath. ”I tell you, you are _you_--and that's all I want to know. And that's all anybody will want to know. I'm not in love with your ancestors, or with your relatives, or your friends. I don't love you because you are, or are not, a nurse-girl, or a school-teacher, or a b.u.t.terfly of fas.h.i.+on. I even don't love you because your eyes are blue, or because your wonderful hair is like the softest of spun gold. It's just because you are you, sweetheart; and you, _just you_, are the whole wide world to me!”

”But--your father?”

”He will love you because I love you. Dad is my good chum--he's always been that. What I love, he'll love. You'll see.”

”Do you think he really will?” A dawning hope was coming into her eyes.

”I'm sure he will. Why, dad is the other half of myself. Always, all the way up, dad has been like that. And everything I've wanted, he's always let me have.”

She drew a tremulous breath of surrender.

”Well, of course, if I thought you all _wanted_ me--”

”_Want you!_” With his impulsive lips on hers she had her answer, and there Burke Denby found his.

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